Yeah, I know, it's been a while...

I'll have to make this a relatively quick post, seeing I'm borrowing a laptop whilst at the comic book store to rattle this off. (But seeing the laptop's owner is currently playing Prince of Persia on the Playstation... )

Well, what have I been up to? Yeah, Blood Bowl has been keeping me busy. Very busy. Last week, it was a trip to Sydney one day for a couple of matches, then the next a trip to Newcastle to play a couple more. This weekend, I'll be in Canberra, for another tournament (third one this year), which I'm actually looking forward to.

Unfortunately though, it means I'll have to miss out on a soccer trial that's on this weekend. We are the lowest graded team in our club, Over 35 9's I think, and at the moment, struggling to get enough players to play. Thankfully though the trials are exactly that, and I'll be finished traveling around next week and be fully ready for the season ahead.

Next weekend (17th & 18th March), something different. A wedding, in Tamworth. I have booked and paid for my train ticket up, and have arranged accommodation at my brother's place. It'll be good to see a few people that I haven't seen for a while, and the event even has a theme - Steampunk.

So, apart from BB, and hanging out at the comic book store, the other thing which has been keeping me busy has been the various medical related appointments. The psychological appointments have been going well. The recent one's have been dedicated towards my OCD. One of them, which I don't feel that embarrassed enough to talk about on my blog, is fingernail chewing. I have been nibbling my nails for over thirty years. I have some "defences" that I can put in place to combat the nail-chewing, and I very nearly got through an entire week last week without chewing them. But last Friday (2nd), I cracked and chewed them. This week, a little better, but then, there's hardly anything to nibble on...

Another thing has been my latest Job Capacity Assessment with C/Link. This time round, the report is more favourable. The number of hours that I am expected to work has been significantly reduced, enough to trigger the roll-over into the disability section.

It's not that I can't work, or don't want to work, it is that I am significantly challenged psychologically, and I can really only work in areas which, well, "feed my obsessions". Noisy places, like call centres, are no go. Jobs involving repetitive work, like factories, no good. Customer service jobs, like working in a supermarket or department store, wouldn't suit me either, as I would have to interact with a lot of strangers on a regular basis.

However, a few hours a week in a comic book store... that I CAN handle.

Anyway, with the current report just in (like, this morning), it is looking more likely that I will be elligible for a disability pension, based on psychological impairments. It has been made considerably more difficult to get a DP in recent years (seeing a lot of people, who don't really deserve it, have applied for it to get off Newstart and get a pay rise at the same time), but with all the supporting paperwork that I handed in, and the psychologist putting in a very good word to the person who was conducting my assessment (they know each other), my application is looking like it will be granted.

However, I know C/Link too well. I honestly should wait until I've seen the recorded evidence, which is what I intend to do. Until it's writing, my case manager, my psychologist, and myself, are only specualting.

But, as I've said, the application has a good chance of succeeding. C/Link are not dealing with someone who's "feeling a little down" or "faking it", I have documents which states that I have been receiving medication for all of this current millennia, I have been quite open with my medical history with them, even to the point of informing them that around this time last year, I had "the plan". The report from the clinical psychologist even lists that I demonstrate traits of a more significant disorder, that of Aspergers, that I can be quite paranoid, and that there's a possibility that my medication would be increased, rather than decreased in the near future, to keep my OCD (and to a lesser extent, my depression) until control.

And after all that, there's the Social Anxiety as well. Gees, could I go on about that... Thankfully, there is some useful therapy I am doing that helps with that. One is called soccer, the other is called Blood Bowl. :)

To think, it's only taken 14 years or so to convince people that I really do have problems. I am honestly very pleased that I have a couple of people, in the right positions, on my side.

Right, must wind this up. Time to head home and contemplate dinner, then pack my bag for Canberra.

Fingers crossed!

P.S: Let's hope for a rain free weekend as well. Last night, and this morning, it really bucketed down here. Not as bad as some of the other places I've seen on the news - Wagga Wagga, Griffith, Bathurst... The rain, at times, has just been relentless. I have been dressing for winter most of this week, after Monday and Tuesday were quite nice. (I was caught out on Wednesday though. It was chilly in the morning, yet just after lunch, I was really feeling the heat... )

But hey, that's Australia for you. The other alternative to floods in summer is bushfires....

Ciao!

Ruddy colds...

Well, the sun is out. Don't know how long for. The weather over the last few days has been about as random as rolling a d6 – you have a 1 in 6 chance of getting it right. We've already had rain today, and yesterday, and the day before in-between the sunny periods. Thankfully it hasn't been the torrential stuff that continues for hours at a time, just brief five minute showers.

The school term has well and truly started. As I type, the afternoon school rush has commenced. Haven't had anyone park on the lawn as of yet this week, and as for the owners turning up to put up a “Private Property – do not park on the lawn” sign, well there's still no sign of them. (Ha ha.) At least number two has moved her car, which is allowing the grass to grow back. It could really use a trim though.

Currently, I'm in a wishy-washy mood. I don't really feel like doing anything more than turning on the TV. The sleep patterns have been rather disrupted again of late. Generally I've been waking between 4 and 6 am most days, having breakfast, fiddle about on the PC for an hour or so (or watch a DVD) to make myself tired then going back to bed around 8 or 9 am, often sleeping through until midday. Being inflicted with a cold as well has made things worse. Last Friday and Saturday was spent mostly in bed. Currently, I feel that I am over the worst of it, though I still feel a bit stuffy, and of course, tired.

It's strange how it happens. Last Monday (6 Feb), I was in fine health. I went for a long walk around Point Frederick, borrowing a camera and seeing what I could find. Seventy-something shots later, my PF walk had been well documented, and posted up on FB. It was a beautiful day for the walk. Not that hot, a good breeze, and the sun was out until a got home around 1.30pm. Mother Nature was in fine form that day as well. The water was lapping lazily around the sandstone rocks, various birds were flying, scrounging or even hunting and I was able to get close to some leaf-curling and St Andrew's Cross spiders.

Pioneers' Park though is still a lovely place to wander around, or just sit and admire the scenery. The tombstones make interesting reading, testimony to the hard times the settlers had to experience. Child mortality was common enough, and fatal accidents, such as being struck by falling trees, as one pioneer had on his marker, added to the residents of the small village of the dead there. One marker contained the details of a family of four who had all died within January and November of the same year, starting with the father, and ending with the second child. It was pretty sad.

Anyway, last Monday I was fine, Tuesday I wasn't feeling that well, Wednesday, the first day back on the Psychologist's couch, it had turned into a full-blown cold. Thankfully, I just had enough money to acquire some cold and flu tablets and stock up on various fruity drinks. Thursday I was worse, and had to go see my case manager at CRS. Thankfully, I didn't have to go anywhere after that and was able to grab some extra z's.

Which leads me nicely to my latest trials and tribulations. Thankfully, I can say that I really feel that I am getting somewhere. With the original diagnosis of Aspergers (way back in May last year) being redefined (and clarified) to “showing a few traits of... “, but not actually having it, what has become quite obvious, is that I have Social Anxiety in spades. Some of the symptoms are similar to Aspergers, which is what makes this rather confusing at times. Along with the SA, there's the OCD, which is also quite prevalent, but not quite as debilitating. The strange thing about my situation now, is that the depression is the LEAST of my concerns. Funny, eh?

What has given me some faith in mankind again, is that I have two professionals in my corner, my psychologist and my case manager, who feel that I have been incorrectly assessed by C/Link at the first JCA last year. They had me down as someone who will improve, and gradually be able to work a thirty plus hour week. My case manager and psychologist (and myself) fully know that that will never be the case. 8 to 14 hours a week, possible. 30, highly unlikely, considering I haven't held a (paid) full-time job in 14 years. Going from 0 hours on an average week to 30 hours would no doubt have me on a greater dosage of medication and one step closer to the railway tracks (figuratively speaking). However, that is what they had on my original assessment, that I will gradually improve. (My case manager told me that the person who did that assessment, used to work for CRS. She wasn't impressed by the fact that I was listed as will show signs of improvement. She stipulated, with no offence to me, that she was expecting good candidates to find work for. With me, it has made her job considerably harder.)

Which is why I am getting a new one done. It'll be next week, and this time I know it'll be over at Ettalong (unlike the last appointment a couple of weeks ago when I wasn't told it was in Ettalong, and I turned up at Gosford... ). I haven't set foot in Ettalong C/Link for, well, over six years at least.

So, my psychologist has written a supportive letter for me, my case manager giving her the heads up on the current JCA assessment criteria, and both have encouraged me to fill in the paperwork to apply for a disability pension. My psychologist is adamant that I will not get any better, seeing I've had these problems for not just ten years, but in some cases twenty or thirty. However, though I may not get any better, but unless something bad happens, I won't get any worse either. I have, effectively, stabilised, plateaued out as it is.

It's only taken, how long, ten, twelve years to finally get some recognition for my ailments?

I don't see it as me having failed the system, but as the system has failed me. When my father died in 2004, I was given three months to recuperate, several sessions with a counsellor then shoved back into the system, and expected to get a job. However, what my psychologist(s) have discovered, and my case manager to a lesser degree, is that I just can't fit in to normal society like a piece of the jigsaw. I am unique. I can't work a 9 to 5 job, I can't handle the regular punch-clock slavery, and, most importantly, at the worst of times, I just can't handle people, which leads me to become horribly socially isolated, which is generally how I feel most of the time.

So, I now have the pension pack, and have filled pretty much all of my section out. Next trip into the doctors, I will give him his section to fill out, plus check if I should stay on the medication.

Okay, what else has been happening? Umm, well, the big Blood Bowl tournament in Canberra, plus I have another one to go to this weekend. (I won't bore you with details. If you like, just go to the BB blog.) I even made a trip up to Wallsend for another game (a league match) forsaking a home Mariners match. (And they lost too that day, to Brisbane. Come to think of it, so did I.) I have also been in touch with a cousin in regards to some family history material. I have just been sent some family pictures, including one of my folks on their wedding day, on the steps of the Cowra church where they were wed. Before last week, I had never seen that image before. I nearly cried.

I have also been doing a little work for my good pal Eric. It's primarily just entering some test data for a site that he is working on. So, last Friday, when I was not feeling that poorly, I entered in a series of bank details and Australian postcodes. 24 of each, three from each of the states and territories for a good variety.

I have also been getting side-tracked with PC games once again. Now that I have a half-decent machine, I have been playing Blood Bowl, Rome Total War and Medieval Total War 2 on a regular basis. All three run nicely on this machine, and I was surprised as to how much more complex Medieval TW2 has become, with priests being able to burn witches and heretics, merchants being able to generate more income (and steal other merchant's assets) and being able to elect Popes. I took the Spanish again (usually my first choice) and are currently at war with Milan, England and France. All three of them I didn't start, but did start one with the Arabs across the straight and Portugal, purely to unify the peninsula. The latter was conquered, and the former I have a steady peace with. Though the Pope has forbade me in attacking Milan, there's no problem with attacking England, or France for that matter!

Anyway, I think that is all for the time being. I have an extensive list of things to keep me occupied for the rest of the week. Typing this blog entry up has been one of them. Ciao!

Sixteen days of house-sitting

Well, with the rain now pouring down outside, I decided to rattle off another blog entry, whilst listening to the groovy sounds of Luscious Jackson. (Very sleek and sexy all-woman US combo with some gorgeous harmonies and sweet, soulful tunes.)

January, I must say, has been a very eventful month, and there is yet more to come. On Thursday (Jan 26th), I'll be venturing down to Blaxland in order to get a lift across to Can Con in Canberra. (Well, I'll be dropped off at Goulburn along the way seeing that's where I am staying for the duration of the tournament.) The original plan, however, was to go down on Wednesday, with Babs, the co-author of Feudball. However, the gent whose place I'm staying at, will not be home until Thursday afternoon. (Actually, no one will be at home, seeing his family are away on holidays and he's working in Canberra.) My “ride” was adamant that he had to travel on Wednesday, so I didn't even bother to ask if he could change his plans. (I know him too well.)

Grumble, grumble.

A little panicking, then a few SMS/PMs/Phone Calls later, and the problem had been solved, with a back-up plan (rail) just in case. I'll be traveling down to the biggest gaming convention in the country with some gaming acquaintances from the Blue Mountains, in, from what I've heard, a small convoy of vehicles.

Of course, with me being of a nervous disposition, you can imagine that alarm bells were ringing in my head quite loudly, causing me to stress out quite a bit. However, now, I'm quite relaxed, and not only have my gaming bag packed for the trip down, but have maps of how to find this gent's place in Goulburn, as well as what trains to catch. I'll pack the clothes tomorrow, not that I'll be needing much.

Next year, if all goes well, I think I'll train it down. This way, I'm not reliant on anybody providing transport except City Rail. (The concession one way to Goulburn is only $4.10. Quite cheap actually for a trip of nearly 300 kms.)

What else? Let's see? Doctor appointment on Monday, to pick up my new mental health plan, find out what my blood results were like (a bit too much Xmas cheer apparently... ), get a health certificate for my next Job Capacity Assessment with C/Link, and see if there is anything I can take for my sleeping problems that won't affect my medication. (Or vice versa.) I now start my next lot of sessions with the psychologist on Feb 8th. Registrations for soccer are now due for the 2012 season, and in the week after Can Con, I'll be having the JCA and do a little job hunting with my case manager from CRS. I believe I'm at a point now where I can handle a few hours a week. Whether I get some paid work or not is a different matter.

Having mow been home a total of three full days after the house-sitting sojourn, I decided to copy and re-order the posts I made on the book of faces site, and present them here. JT is my sister, SW is my aunt whose place I was minding, LW is a cousin (my aunt's youngest daughter, who also lives there), and the rest are people that I know (or I'm related to).


Yay! Off on my holiday today! 3 January at 08:44
JT mmm didn’t know... where u going? 3 January at 10:15
Me Ummm, Aunty S's... 3 January at 11:55
SW Hope its a holiday for you!! 3 January at 12:25
Me It is now that I have i/net access! :) 3 January at 20:49

Oh dear, expected top of 39 degrees today in the Shire... 4 January at 09:30
MK Oh bugger :( 4 January at 18:12
Me Actually, it wasn't too bad. My aunt's place has air-con! :)
However, around 3pm I decided to have a nap, and missed Clarke & Hussey going to town on the Indian bowling! 4 January at 20:37

House-sitting Day 1:
3 loads of laundry done and dried
2 little yellow puddles to clean up in the kitchen
1 very hot and sweaty me
LW ‎3 puddles so far.... 4 January at 18:27
Me Ah well, I suppose it can't be helped, she is an old doggie. :) 4 January at 20:43
LW We've thought about some kind of dog diaper. 4 January at 21:12
Me Funny you should mention that... http://www.tinkletrousers.com/

House-sitting day 3:
Walked into town around lunch-time, a good twenty minute walk each way, up and down hills, and with groceries on the way
back. Had a blood test, shopped, had lunch, picked up my pills (not in that exact order) then went back to the Aunt's place.
Big surprise in that there were no surprises waiting for me on the kitchen floor.... :) 6 January at 16:52
Me Too good to be true though. Wandering out to the lounge room to watch a DVD a couple of hours ago... 6 January at 23:26

House-sitting Day 4:
Dogs are acting a bit weirder than usual. The Shadow Inquisitor (Timmee), seems to dislike a certain pillow in the lounge room, whilst the Bewildered Hoover (ET), has taken to occasionally licking the couches... 7 January at 17:16
PC they sound as weird as my dog..... 7 January at 18:38
Me Quite possibly. I think ET is an older version of Kia... :) 8 January at 00:13

House-sitting Day 5:
Had a lovely lunch today with Cousin C & W, and talked family history (both current and past) for an hour or so.
Perhaps there is a book or two there... 8 January at 16:01

House-sitting Day 6:
Things that the Bewildered Hoover has walked in to over the last couple of days...
* the door
* two chairs
* my foot (whilst I was lying on the floor)
* a bucket
* the door frame
* a couch
She also does an impersonation of Katie Featherston from Paranormal Activity where she stands for a few minutes looking at nothing in particular. :) 9 January at 15:57
SW The dog updates are making me laugh so much- especially the nick names- so apt!! 9 January at 19:22
Me She walked into the fan in the study last night as well! :) Yeah, I'd thought you'd appreciate my new labels for them! 10 January at 09:14
LW Haha 10 January at 20:50
Me She's getting really good at the Katie Featherston impersonation. :) 10 January at 22:37

House-sitting Day 6:
Problem number one - how the hell am I going to shift that huge branch from the tree in the corner of the yard that was blown down during the storm last night?
And if I do move it, where am I going to put it?
On a lighter note the Bewildered Hoover appears to have doggy dementia. She's rolling around the floor on her back thinking she's a puppy again. :) 9 January at 10:05
DM Love to help you but I been busy mowing :-) 9 January at 15:05
Me I've separated it from the tree, and will chop it up into sections and put it in the green waste bin when the weather is a bit cooler. 9 January at 15:52

House-sitting Day 7:
Strange. Returned home after touring the area's shopping centers with Rod, but not to a frenzied barking from Shadow Inquisitor, but to silence! The pair of them had flaked out on my bed and didn't even move until we had both entered the room.
The Bewildered Hoover has now taken to kipping on the small table in the lounge room. You'd think it would be rather uncomfortable for her, but apparently not. The pair of them still hover around me every time I'm near the sink, the fridge, or the stove. I was buttering bread and BH insisted on finding out what I was doing. I put some margarine on my index finger and showed her. She licked it, then grabbed it with her teeth and tried to pull me along! :) 10 January at 22:36
SW Hi - having trouble sending you messages on fb so thought I'd try your wall. Don’t worry about the branch - the owner can get rid of that. Hope that the dogs arnt stressing you out too much. We are going up north tomorrow to Nisa's (my aunt's daughter-in-law) home town - not sure how internet access will be up north. Looking forward to seeing all the sights!!
JT enjoy aunty s.. he'll work it out!!! hahaha 9 January at 21:28
Me Me & R will probably get stuck into the yard work early next week. He reckons it won't take long to do the yard.
The branch we will try and get rid of as well. Between the two of us we should be able to carve it up! :) 10 January at 22:29
SW Thank you - you are going above and beyond- so appreciated!!! 10 January at 23:37
JT on fire!!! lol just joking aunty s 11 January at 13:35
Me In the zone now, especially with cleaning up ET's messes... 11 January at 17:37

House-sitting Day 8:
The Bewildered Hoover's worst day yet. So far (today) she has managed to pee in three rooms in the house (the music room, S's room, and the kitchen), plus throw up a whole pile of undigested dog biscuits all over the kitchen floor. (I wasn't quick enough to get her outside... ) I won't add what she did after she threw up... She has also walked into two doors and a wall, and gave my left foot a good licking.
The Shadow Inquisitor has been, strangely, better behaved than normal. Perhaps he's planning something.... 11 January at 17:43
RA Sounds like there is a need for DAP spray. Available from vets for doggy anxiety.... 12 January at 07:04
Me Ah, thanks R! :) Strangely enough, they have been very well behaved today! 12 January at 13:35

House-sitting Day 9:
Dogs are very well-behaved today. Woke up this morning around 7am to find no doggy messes in the house anywhere. Went for a walk into town around midday to grab a couple of things, and returned home to find the place was as I left it. Very surprised, and pleased at the same time! :)
Both doggies were summarily rewarded and have been allowed back into the my room (the music room).
12 January at 13:53

House-sitting Day 9 (extra):
Ahhh! Appreciating my aunt's CD collection and stereo! Enjoying listening to Moby.
It's true what they say - music seems to soothe the savage beast. Both dogs are chillin' out. Took a pic of them yesterday but my mate hasn't sent it to me yet from his mobile... 12 January at 14:50

Hoo-ray!!!
Marking this in my diary (lol). Jan 12th, first day of house-sitting that I DIDN'T have to clean up any little surprises! :)
13 January at 00:11
(I should add – when I went to the kitchen ten minutes later to get a drink, someone had left a present a few minutes beforehand, which is what the two following comments refer to.)
DM Surprise !!!! 13 January at 10:02
MK D'OH! 13 January at 10:43

House-sitting Day 10:
I'm wondering now if there'll be enough paper towels until the aunt gets back. The pair have been incredibly busy this morning with not one, but three puddles in the kitchen despite the fact the back door has been open since 5am. (Sigh. I suppose I can always go out and buy some more... )
On a dryer note, the Bewildered Hoover does a good impersonation of Mother Teresa as well, after I dropped a tea-towel on her whilst I was doing the dishes. 13 January at 10:56

House-sitting Day 10 (extra):
Australia well on top on day one in the third test, dogs asleep, cool breeze drifting in through the window, washing folded and put away... doesn't get much better than this! 13 January at 20:33
MM You can come and fold my washing! (someone's gotta do it) 13 January at 20:39
DM I got washing to hang out , been mowing back lawn this arvo , bourbon time 13 January at 20:43

House-sitting Day 10 (additional extra):
My aunt wasn't kidding about there being the likelihood of frogs coming into the house. Sure enough, what do I find in the kitchen as I'm going to get a drink... 13 January at 21:01
DM Gribbit :-) we had baby ducklings at the back door couple months back . 13 January at 21:25
Me Awww. I like ducks! :) 14 January at 09:58
MK Ribbet! 14 January at 11:41

House-sitting Day 11:
Bewildered Hoover wakes up, hops out of the washing basket in my aunt's bedroom (it's her regular sleeping spot - don't ask), yaps excitedly for five minutes, runs around, bounces off the linen cupboard door, goes outside, comes back inside, and is now curled up on the mattress and is asleep with the Shadow Inquisitor.
Rather gloomy outside. Headin' off to see the Mariners take on Newcastle this afternoon. Love the local derbies!
(For the record, the result was a hard fought 1 all draw.)

House-sitting Day 12:
Returned home last night after the drive up to the coast for the local derby to a decorative pattern of 1's, 2's and a 3 (don't ask), plus a quick visit from the frog, who had taken an interest in my aunt's TV set. The rain really pelted down last night, so it was good to settle down and watch the late movie on SBS, though the Bewildered Hoover made it hard by deciding to park herself right in front of my face.
Whilst BH does impersonations of people, the Shadow Inquisitor does ones of various animals. This morning, it was a Springbok.
They're both tired out. The five minutes in the backyard this morning must've been really exhausting for them... LOL 15 January at 09:51
MK Dogs are just like people... plum crazy! Lol 15 January at 09:57
Me Yup - too true! 15 January at 09:57
SW Thank you - you are doing a great job 15 January at 10:42
JT greens frogs are worth a fortune 15 January at 10:52
Me Hmm, perhaps I should catch this little sucker then? 15 January at 17:51
JT illegal 15 January at 20:30
JT but what the hell 15 January at 20:30
Me He hasn't returned. Perhaps the dogs scared him off. (Or more likely ate him... ) 16 January at 22:41

House-sitting Day 12 (additional):
Dogs and myself took it very easy today. I played a bit of BB and created some compilation CDs whilst listening to the Aussies thrash India in the third test. Then decided to start work trimming that huge branch down to size. Now it's just big ruddy log, with the green wheelie bin pretty full.
The dogs decided to come out and join me. I think it's the longest they've been outside since I've been here. Would've stayed out longer but the rain has come back and I only just got the washing in in time. 15 January at 17:56
MK Ur lucky with ur washing... mine is still dripping on the late after yesterday! Lol 15 January at 18:02
Me Ah bugger. We were spared at the Mariners match yesterday, seeing we got there early and undercover. However, as soon as the match finished, and we were walking back to my place...
It continued for most of the trip back to Baulkham Hills and then continued until midnight. 15 January at 18:06

House-sitting Day 13:
Rain, rain, go away so that we can get the lawns done tomorrow...
Still, one good thing is that the bad weather is keeping me indoors and busy with scanning family history stuff. The dogs are asleep, and I don't blame them!
Ironic - Moby's "It's raining again" has just started playing on the stereo... 16 January at 12:36

House-sitting Day 13 (extra):
The dogs have a routine established. Every time I go to the kitchen, they follow, to see if I'm getting/preparing food. To counter this, I show them what I have in my hand. Whilst doing the dishes after lunch, the pair were patiently standing nearby waiting for the scraps that were never going to come. I show them what I have in my hand this time, it was a frying pan. The Shadow Inquisitor sniffs it, then wanders off rather disappointed. The Bewildered Hoover on the other hand starts to lick it, thinking there's something on it. (There was - detergent.)
I have had to get tough though. Fed up with being pestered for food every time I have a main meal, I lead the dogs outside, then shut the door on them. Within 30 seconds the scratching begins. Within a minute the whining begins. When I'm finished (generally in five minutes), I open the door, usually to find BH with her front paws on the step, and SI lying down with his head on it.
SI, I've noticed, can do a reasonable impersonation of the Sphinx, if he stays still long enough. BH, for some reason, is still licking the couch...16 January at 22:40
(Missing comment from my Aunt about here)
Me Yeah. I think the hardest part was learning their routines. Once I figured that out, it's not that bad. 90% of the time they're okay (they're fast asleep, and BH snores) it's just that little 10% in the day when they proceed to really test my patience... 16 January at 22:57

House-sitting Day 14:
Yard work scheduled for this afternoon. Gorgeous day outside, look forward to getting out for a little bit.
Enjoying some tunes - a compilation CD I just made up with a variety of stuff, and more BB on the PC.
Apart from that - nothing doing! :) 17 January at 11:27

House-sitting Day 14 (extra additional):
Mark the day in the diary - Jan 17, SECOND no mess day! :) 18 January at 00:38
Me And the hairy ones are fast asleep on my mattress. Seems a shame to have to evict them soon...
18 January at 00:40

House-sitting Day 15:
The battle of wills continues. The dogs still think that anything I pull out of the cupboard/fridge can be eaten by them, so I give
them what I am eating (2 minute noodles). Both reject it. They both take the packet, but are sorely disappointed when there's nothing in it. The Bewildered Hoover even takes the sachet containing the flavouring. She doesn't like it.
If they were people, the Bewildered Hoover would be a doddering old granny, complete with zimmer frame, who constantly forgets her glasses. She would be wearing adult diapers and have dementia.
The Shadow Inquisitor is more like a junkie. He'll be full of beans for five minutes, bouncing around the place like a springbok, then has to sleep for three hours to restore his energy for the next run.
Both of them, a few minutes ago, were doing the Katie Featherston Paranormal Activity thing. It was rather amusing, yet at the same time, a little disturbing... 18 January at 12:36
MK Time to wean them off those 'special' mushrooms they might be eating from the backyard, perhaps? Lol 18 January at 12:58
SW Hi - thank you for the yard work - you deserve a cold beverage - and a pressie! Mmmm- wonder what it could be???? 18 January at 02:20 (No guesses, it was a hat, a rather funky hat!)

House-sitting Day 15 (additional):
Ten things that the dogs initially believed that they could eat, then realized that they couldn't...
1) Egg shells
2) Potato peels
3) Apple peels
4) An empty packet of 2 minute noodles
5) The flavour sachet from a packet of 2 minute noodles
6) Carrot
7) Frozen chips
8) A bottle of Pepsi
9) A packet of mixed frozen vegetables
10) A knife
Last day of house-sitting tomorrow. My how the time has flown!
MK Almost at the last turn... you can do it! you CAN do it! :P 19 January at 09:49
Me I can also add another one - one of my fingers! :) 19 January at 11:24

House-sitting Day 16:
The last day, and the flood-gates have opened! Big and little puddles everywhere... 19 January at 11:13
SW Oh Dear!! 19 January at 12:00
DM Puddle Dock 19 January at 12:11
Me Strangely enough, after the morning messes, the rest of them have been done outside. :) 19 January at 21:06

House-sitting Day 16 (additional):
Shadow Inquisitor asleep, Bewildered Hoover sort of half asleep with the glazed look in her eyes. They're so nice when they're like this.
Enjoying a quiet evening with some Moby on the stereo, after having *finally* updated my Blood Bowl blog. Might go watch some more 30 Rock a bit later. 19 January at 21:49


Well, with the rain abating just a wee bit, and the Luscious Jackson CD having just finished, it's time to wind this up, and post it.

Ciao!

One week of house-sitting

Well, it's another warm day down in The Shire. It's just me and two dogs that would keep a dog psychologist in business for years. Today marks one week since my aunt headed off to Thailand for her son's wedding. From what I've seen of the pics on FB, I'd say everybody had a good time. The rest of the time there will be spent seeing the sites, including the Bridge on the River Kwai and the Tiger Temple.

Me, well, I'm wondering if I can actually get through the next week and-a-half without completely going off my rocker. The dogs, I must say, are very trying. At times they can be extremely annoying, to the point where I'm yelling at them. However, I soon remember that both of them are (supposedly) deaf, and there is no point raising my voice. That, and I can't stay mad at them for too long. After all, they're just dogs.

When they're asleep, and that can be quite often, they're good. The problem is that every time I move around the house, they're behind me, or under my feet. They have to be in the same room as me, and have to know what I'm doing at every moment. Anything I pull out of the fridge (according to doggy reasoning) is food that they can eat. Anything I pull out of the cupboard, is food that they can eat. Anything that I have in my hand (occasionally including my hand), is food that they can eat. The food that they're allowed to eat, are the dog biscuits, although when I'm cutting some chunks off the big leg of ham in the fridge for sandwiches, I throw them some tidbits. The small white one (which I now refer to as the “Bewildered Hoover”, on account she wanders around aimlessly, often sniffing the floor looking for food), walked around for fifteen or so minutes with three small chunks of ham in her fur before she realized that they were there.

She's also (mostly) blind and I feel she's quite senile as well. She knows that I'm around, but at times doesn't know where I am. She walks into things – doors, chairs, tables, even the base of the fan the other day. The funniest, yet saddest thing to watch was her walking behind the door in my room (my aunt's music room), which was ajar, then having to reverse when she walked into the wall. I'm keeping an eye on her at the moment. About half-an-hour ago she threw up a pile of undigested dog biscuits all over the kitchen floor. (I couldn't get her outside in time.) Then in true doggy fashion, she started eating the regurgitated biscuits. She's eating the biscuits again, so I'm keeping one eye on her, and one eye on this. I would rather hose down the verandah than mop up the floor...

The other one, the larger of the two, is black, and I refer to him as the “Shadow Inquisitor”, seeing he generally is right behind me everywhere I go, and must know what I am doing at every moment. I have managed to get him under control, seeing I can chase him away with either a) the clothes basket, b) the TV remote control or c) a pen or pencil. However, for the last three mornings he has been leaving lumpy deposits on the kitchen floor. He just wants to be the center of attention. You must acknowledge him at all times. If I go out, he will perch himself on the top of the couch near the window, so that he can keep watch on the driveway. Anyone that comes up it gets a furious barking, regardless is it's friend or foe.

I'm glad that I managed to escape yesterday. Rod, from the soccer team, turned up yesterday and we went for a drive around the local shopping centers. I picked up some cheap cartridges for my aunt's printer, plus a cheap mouse so that I can use on the laptop that I'm using now, and will take home with me so that I can replace the old one that I have there currently. We 're planning a drive up to Gosford for Saturday's Mariners vs Newcastle match. The local derby should draw a good crowd, and with the Mariners in fantastic form (club record of 12 matches in-a-row without a loss) there is no reason why there shouldn't be a good crowd on hand. The last two home matches drew close to 28,000 spectators, which is pleasing to see. The team also managed to win back-to-back games inside five days, with a 2-0 win over Melbourne Victory at home (last Wednesday the 4th), and last Sunday (8th) a hard fought 1-0 win over Sydney FC at the Sydney Football Stadium. Though we have lost our leading goal-scorer Matt Simon (took up a $400k a year contract to play in Korea) we are still doing well enough. (From what I've heard, the 1-0 scoreline did not reflect how dominant the team was during the match. We just have to get tougher and learn how to really put sides away.)

Anyway, a trip up will be good. It will give me a chance to take home all the stuff that I have finished with, deposit some clean clothing that I won't be needing, and bring down some more washing that I can get done during the week. (Whilst I have the chance, I'll use the machine!) I'll bring the old laptop down too, seeing there are some DVDs I wouldn't mind getting a copy of. (Zombieland, Season 4 IT Crowd, even some Frasier wouldn't go astray... )

So, despite the dramas with the dogs, this hasn't been too bad. I've been content to just veg out, watching DVDs, play Blood Bowl on the laptop, write, print up stuff, scan material, even spend some time with the rels. (I have a cousin not far from my aunt's place. She is the daughter of my aunt Rete, who still lives in Inverell.) I have learnt a fair bit about the family, from her extensive family history research. She has sent on a lot of material, and has even borrowed some stuff off me. I got a copy of a newspaper clipping of my folks' wedding, which I promptly scanned and posted on FB, plus discovered that we might have a peer in the family. One has to go back to the 1600's to find him though...

Currently, I have moved the laptop from the music room to the kitchen, and have the afternoon sun at my back, and whatever windows that I can open to get the strong breeze that's whistling about currently. The house at the moment is decidedly cool, and I have recently discovered that there is a USB slot on the telly, so I'm now listening to my MP3 player. Bliss! The toughest decision I will have to make today will be what to have for dinner.

Well, there's not much on my “to do” list that needs to be done. Currently, I need to just type up a Blood Bowl blog (long overdue that one is), the hand-written notes I made for the second Feudball book whilst I was away for Xmas (and finish the respective chapter), scan a couple of books, and finish reading one.

Then what will I do for the second week? Hmmm...

Ciao!

Yaaaawn! It's too early!

Yeah, in that weird state of being tired and wanting to sleep, but can't get to sleep. So, what do I do? Blog therapy!

At least I got some sleep this time round. Must've been close to six hours. Still not enough though. At least it wasn't the traffic this time round. Must say, it's a change not having 21 hour a day traffic buzzing outside one's window, or drunks, permanently bewildered people and substance abusers wandering around at random intervals either.

What I do have though, are two dogs that would keep a dog psychologist quite busy. One has just turned 16, the other, well, I don't know. They're poodles of some sort, possibly crossed with something else. They're both deaf, and the old white one is incontinent and quite possibly blind as well. The black one has an attention seeking problem. Last night, after I was in bed, it was scratching at the door trying to get into the room. If I go anywhere, it follows. If I eat/drink anything, it wants some, and sits right under my feet waiting for something. (Not working this time bud!) It regularly wants to go outside, then come back inside shortly after, so I just leave the back doors open. Easier that way. (Except, of course, when I'm sitting in the lounge to watch telly or a DVD, and want the air-con on.)

The joys of house-sitting. Apart from that, it's not too bad. On Tuesday (3rd Jan) when I got down here, my aunt showed me around the around the area (which I'm quite familiar with already, having passed through here a number of times for football matches last season), then went shopping. I look forward to having a walk around when it cools down a bit. The shops are only 20-25 minutes up the road. Suits me fine. Straight up the road, veer left, then turn left and I'm there.

I've got a nice long list of things to do (both personally, and from my aunt), which should keep me well and truly occupied for the 2.5 weeks that I'll be here. Then there'll be a few days at home, then Can Con. (At least I can afford to go this year!) My aunt's list has emergency contact numbers, tour itenery (she's doing a little sight-seeing whilst she's in Thailand for her son's wedding), instructions for the pets, watering the plants, etc. Nothing that I can't handle. I might even see if I can arrange to get the lawns mowed before she gets back.

I even have access to a lap-top (it's in better condition than my old one in Gosford at least), and have installed one or two things (like Open-Office) so that I can do a few things whilst I'm here. It can't handle Blood Bowl LG or Rome Total War (video controller problems again - sigh) and there is so much junk on this machine that I don't really have the room to install them anyway. (At least it can handle Java Carcassonne and Colossus, the computer version of the old Avalon Hill "Titan" board game which I've taught myself how to play.) The 'net connection is good, so at least I can surf the web, download stuff, etc. and there's a printer/scanner as well, which I've already used. Just have to remember to remove my stuff off the hard-drive before I leave here. (I can't very much delete other people's files, but I did remove some un-essential software that they had accumulated to get a bit of extra space, and cleaned up the hard-drive of electronic junk. Had to be careful though, the laptop belongs to the aunt's boyfriend's mother, a local church elder... )

Anyway, I'll get there. Rod is planning to come over at some point, and I have already been invited over for dinner at a cousin's place nearby, so there's a couple of things to look forward to. Just got to survive the dogs...

At least there's cricket to watch on the telly (oh man, we are hammering them in the second test - co Clarkey!), and there'll be opportunities to zip back to the coast for a Mariner's match. Yesterday, despite the 38/39 degree heat, I managed to get all my laundry done that I lugged down with me. I have even started to scan material belonging to my parents, especially my father's family history stuff. (And there's a lot of it.) I'm taking time out to read, and keeping my private journal up-to-date. I am treating this as a holiday - the first one that I have had in seven years...

Right, I feel that I am sufficiently tired enough that I'll doze back off. Both dogs are asleep as well (unless, of course, I move out of the room... )

Cheers!