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Monday, December 31, 2007

Cat story

The story began when Dopey Cat (as we started to call it) started paying our home visits. Dopey Cat is a large grey cat who must live close by. Dopey Cat attained this moniker due to its inability to understand the usual polite requests to move on and return to its own domain (such as "pssssst!" or "get away!"). Upon hearing this, Dopey Cat would simply look at you and continue with whatever it was doing.

Inevitably, Dopey Cat and Houdini did not get along. And Houdini is not a fighter, and is small. So I am in the habit of gently, but firmly, seeing off neighbourhood cats to reduce cat fighting and foreign cat pooing.

Anyway, twice I found Dopey Cat inside our house bailing up poor Houdini. The only way to remove it seemed to be picking it up, putting it out the door and emptying 2 saucepanfuls of water upon it. (One saucepanful only made it move briskly a couple of metres. Dopey Cat would then stop, appear to forget why it was running, and look back at me in a dopey kind of way).

Things took a turn for the worse when we heard a cat fight inside the house one night. Come morning, I was just about to dump a load of clean, unfolded washing on the couch so that I could do more washing, when I spied cat poo on a couch cushion (amongst cat fur and claw marks in the cushion threads).

Counsel was taken over what to do about Dopey Cat.

It was decided that during our absence, Houdini would have to be confined to the wash house rather than having the run of the lounge as was usual. But what if Dopey Cat ate her food? What if Dopey Cat bailed her up in the wash house and she could not escape?

On our return, Houdini looked fat and happy as she emerged to greet us from under the house (from a hole too small for Dopey Cat). However, that night...cat fight inside again. Mercifully we were spared the deposit...but the thought of poor Houdini possibly being assaulted every night we were away! From now on, Dopey Cat would be Bully Cat.

Counsel was taken over what to do about Bully Cat.

"Get it with our car" suggested Aidan. "Get it with Grandad's guns". While both of Aidan's suggestions would, no doubt, have been very effective, they were vetoed for legal and practical reasons. His third suggestion ("Get Houdini to get it with her claws") would also be effective had Houdini showed sufficient mettle.

Houdini spent last night in our bedroom safe from Bully Cat and very content. We are now faced with reconstructing our cat door to lock out Bully Cat (which means Houdini won't be able to exit, or re-enter if we get a one-way lock). We don't know where Bully Cat lives, or we might be able to ask its owners to consider keeping it in at night. Although in reality I would be reluctant to do this.

Meanwhile, late last night, from the comfort of Aidan's bed, Houdini pondered what to do about Bully Cat.


Labels: Aidan, House management, Suburban housewife, The cat

posted by Mary at 10:40 am 2 comments

Sunday, December 30, 2007

The Return

Well, our Christmas holiday is now over and we are back home.

The highlights: Taking a part in the traditions that I love. And seeing the genuine pleasure that the cuzzies take in each other's company.

The low points: Saying goodbye. And the vomiting and diarrhoea. Could most definitely have done without that.

And let's not forget the return journey:

The nice surprise: Being sold the tastiest, largest, juiciest cherries I have ever tasted while waiting in a queue to board the ferry. And for only $14 a kilo!

The nasty surprise: Finding that Orla had won the coveted award of Worst Poo Nappy Ever (across all three children) sometime before Blenheim. Heroically changed by Brendon (after having his meat pie). Many thanks to the stream that runs through the town, copious supplies of cotton flats, toilet paper and plastic bags, and alcohol hand gel.

Labels: Christmas, Cleaning, Family, Nappies, Orla, outings, Suburban housewife

posted by Mary at 9:04 pm 1 comments

Monday, December 24, 2007

Twas the night before Christmas

So here we are on December 24th, fresh from the children's Christmas service at the family church. Isabelle dressed as an angel. Orla wore a little gold tinsel halo and a little white dress. Aidan wore his swimming togs, which he had been wearing since his swim earlier in the day. (He had his spiderman singlet over the top for that touch of formality).

The presents are all wrapped and are waiting to be placed under the tree. The ham has been picked up and the crackers are ready in the back room. The only thing that is yet to be done is the tradition reading of "The Night Before Christmas" by Grandad.

This must be my 32nd reading of the poem: I am so familiar with how Dad reads it that I cannot bear any other rhythms than those by which he performs it. On the years when we have had a Wellington Christmas I have read it aloud myself. It would not be the same if someone else read it differently. (No, you must pause there and let your voice trail off here, not the other way around!). The proper cadences are an essential part of the tradition.

It has been hot here today, a real summer's day. Drinks are being set up outside and Aidan is fresh from another swim.

I might even have a little bit of wine myself.

Labels: Aidan, Christmas, Family, Isabelle, Orla, Weather

posted by Mary at 7:15 pm 0 comments

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Countdown

The last week has gone by in a flurry of activity. Shopping, Christmas parties...and Isabelle's first ballet show. She had three performances and a lighting/sound rehearsal over the weekend, so it was very exciting and busy.

I went to her 4.oo pm performance and sat in the front row.

Labels: Isabelle

posted by Mary at 1:57 pm 0 comments

A bus home

I was sitting at Lambton Quay this morning waiting (and waiting, and waiting...) for a bus home. One pulled up. It wasn't the number I was after. The destination board at the front was fairly ordinary. But the one of the side was positioned half way between Avonhead and Square.

Labels: Family, Random stuff

posted by Mary at 1:54 pm 0 comments

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Conversation with a legend

"Hello Santa!".
"Hello! Come and sit down". (pats seat)
"I think I might". (sits) "Ah, nice to have a little break".
"And who is this one?"
"This is Orla. Fast asleep! But she has seen you already with her big brother and sister. Or whoever does the past five o'clock shift!".
"Ah. I have helpers today". (gestures towards two elves)
"I see. How's business?"
"Not bad. I had a party of school children in earlier. I had to fit them in here five at a time".
"Ah well, keeps things interesting!".
"That it does. Have a lolly!"
"Why thank you, I think I will".
(Small girl approaches brandishing reindeer on a stick)
"I see that you have another customer! Time for me to be off. Thank you for the lolly!"

Labels: Christmas, Orla, Suburban housewife

posted by Mary at 8:48 pm 0 comments

Sunday, December 09, 2007

Christmas doings






Ahh...the smell of pine is in the air! The christmas tree is up!

Here's some photos. There's Isabelle placing the first decoration into the tree - beads she had threaded herself that morning. And there's Isabelle beside the finished tree.

This year from Kirk's Christmas shop we bought a pohutakawa fairy (gorgeous tinted paua shell), reindeer noel (Isabelle's choice) and gingerbread man (Aidan's choice).

On Friday evening we saw Father Christmas. It looked like Aidan was going to refuse to take part, but he decided to at the last minute and cuddled up next to Santa shyly, answering his questions in a whisper or with a nod of the head. Both children made their (very modest) present requests. Orla (mistaken for a boy) was placed on his knee and we quickly got a photo. Six dollars got me a blurry record of Isabelle and Aidan smiling their special "photo faces" smile, a bewildered Orla and a very merry Santa. Father Christmas gave them lollies and we were on our way.

(FC did a good job and looked the part. As we were leaving, I did see him look discreetly at his watch as another family lined up. It was after 5.oo though....).

Actually this is the first time Aidan has smiled in the photo at all. The first one he (as a baby) looks slightly outraged, the next sad, and last year's shot was incredibly grumpy.

Christmas shopping is scheduled for Wednesday - well the bulk of it anyway.

Labels: Aidan, Christmas, Isabelle, Orla, Suburban housewife

posted by Mary at 7:36 pm 0 comments

Saturday, December 08, 2007

Real....or imaginary?

Isabelle has been enquiring lately as to whether certain personages are real, or just stories. So far, the hard questions have been asked about the tooth fairy, elves, God, Jesus, pixies and flying reindeer.

She has not asked whether Father Christmas is real. The answer to this is obvious, as she has met him on several occasions.

Labels: Christmas, Isabelle

posted by Mary at 4:43 pm 0 comments

Friday, December 07, 2007

Isabelle reads

Isabelle is starting to read. Really read. By this, I mean she is starting to read words in her environment which (to my knowledge) are not on her word list. She is still taking clues from the context - for example, she held up a Christmas cd and said "This says Jingle Jangle Jingle" (which it did). The fact that a song with these words repeated (and repeated!) had been on recently may have given her a clue! But she also read the front of a birthday invitation that Aidan had been given. Very exciting.

Speaking of that birthday invitation - on Saturday, Aidan will be going to a birthday party that Isabelle will not be going to. This is the first time this has happened. (Isabelle has gone to a party without him before). I think Isabelle was slightly miffed!

Labels: Aidan, education, Isabelle

posted by Mary at 9:45 am 0 comments

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Orla moves

Orla drags herself across the floor on her tummy, one arm in front of the other, with steely determination in her quest for a tasty piece of fluff she spies close by.

But if you try and put her down on her tummy, she swiftly brings her legs out to her sides into a full split, and pushes up with her hands to sitting.

She sort-of stands in a supported fashion against furniture, fascinated by the new opportunities this position presents.

For a while, she has enjoyed removing any hat you attempt to place on her head. But now she enjoys putting clothing or pieces of paper onto or over her head, then pulling them off. She seems very pleased that she has mastered this skill.

She uses her two bottom (and only) teeth to shave little pieces of apple off a larger piece.

She waves, either at interesting people (such as the baby in the mirror), or at no-one in particular.

She nods and shakes her head, copying your actions. Or spontaneously expressing her own thoughts, (such as the desirability of that last spoonful of food).

Orla loves it when Daddy comes home, startling at the sound of his voice and shouting "Dadadadada!".

Labels: Orla

posted by Mary at 8:11 pm 0 comments

Monday, December 03, 2007

Comparative caking


So here's last year's effort again.

I think I did a much better job with last year's photo - putting it on the tea towel is far more attractive.

Hmmmm. The 2006 version was, in my opinion, my best effort at Christmas cake baking taste-wise.

We shall see....

Labels: Christmas

posted by Mary at 10:21 am 0 comments

Sunday, December 02, 2007

The cake!


Here it is!

A tad crispy on the outside and a bit sunken in the middle, but I won't hold that against it.

Currently maturing in the pantry.....

Labels: Christmas

posted by Mary at 9:15 pm 0 comments

Christmas season

December 1 has come and gone, so it is well and truly Christmas season!

We have got out the advent calendar, the decorations (although they're not up yet) and the Christmas cds. Yesterday I was writing Christmas cards to the familiar sound of:

da-da-da daaaa daaaa da-da-da DAAAAA da, da-da-da DAAAAA da, da-da-da daaaaaaa

(that's Star Wars, not jingle bells. Aidan still puts our Star Wars soundtrack on at least four times a day).

Today I made my Christmas cake. It looks a tad overcooked (Orla was feeding at a vital moment), but I'm sure it will taste OK. I had two willing helpers this year.

The first Christmas party for the year is on this Wednesday.

Labels: Aidan, Christmas, House management, Suburban housewife

posted by Mary at 4:02 pm 0 comments

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