Long Overdue Update

I'm am long overdue for an update. I have no idea where the time has gone! Last week I had Mum and my niece Natalia stay for a week. The weather was lovely and we were constantly trying to fit in as much as possible. The first day (Monday) was a quieter day, with doing a little shopping and going out for lunch. Then we went to the beach, where Tali got a bit of an unplanned dunking. Tuesday I took Mum to the Old Melbourne Gaol while my brother took Tali to the Aquarium. We then had lunch and went to the museum. Went home to change and then out for dinner. Wednesday we just went shopping out a Chadstone which is a large shopping mall. Thursday was a big day - we went on a tour to Ballarat. Went to the Wildlife Park so Tali could feed kangaroos and get to pat a koala and wombat. Then it was on to Sovereign Hill where Tali was able to go gold-panning. That was her highlight of her holiday I think. She did find some, and I found a little bit more. Sovereign Hill is a living museum. Set up as a goldfields town. These are the photos I took from my holiday in 2005. Scroll past the wildlife photos. Friday, I took Tali on the train to Bentleigh, which is a suburb about 30 mins by train from central Melbourne. There's a USA food shop there and I was able to load myself up with pop tarts, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Dr Pepper and root beer, salt water taffy. Tali had some lollypops and Twizzlers. I sent her back to NZ with Pixie Stixs (?sp) That afternoon I stayed home while the others went to Luna Park (amusement park) and back to the beach. I needed a little time out. As much as I loved having Mum and Tali staying, I was at a point where I just needed some me alone time. Saturday we went to the zoo. Then we had dinner where my brother used to work. I had a very yummy spaghetti cabonara. I don't usually have spaghetti while I'm in public, but I'm glad I did. Sunday they went home.

I felt a little down on Sunday once I waved them off at the airport. When I went back into the city I bought a new book and read it that afternoon. Bought the latest Anita Shreve, Bodysurfing, which I enjoyed. Haven't felt the happiest the past few days, but I think I'm picking up. I don't feel like crying so much. As much as I loved having Tali here, I would have liked to have had more time just with Mum. Speaking of Tali, she is the worst person to share a bed with. She wriggles something terrible. I got kicked a few times, had the blankets pinched off me. Between that and Mum snoring, I didn't get much sleep that week. LOL!

Otherwise, not an awful lot has been happening. The weather is cooling down. I'm having to wear something with sleeves more frequently now, and using the duvet most nights. I'm going to have a pretty pathetic pay next week, due to taking last week off. I've worked 3 days this week. That's the only thing with working casually - you get the extra money so that you don't get paid for holidays etc. It shouldn't be too much of a pinch. Electricity's been paid and isn't due for a bit, telephone's not due, and I've put away half the rent for next month, plus there will be another pay before it needs to be paid.

Bought a stack of Cary Grant movies the other day. Hopefully one of them will make it as a choice for movie night. If not, I'll just have to buy another! *G*