27th February 2010 (Saturday) Happy Birthday to Gianmarco!

Nabbed the fast computer today, so I'd better be quick. In brief, the Non and I went and did shopping while the Mr did his work at home, and at four o'clock I stayed at home while the Mr took the Littles to the beach. Then we had dinner. There, that's it.

To be slightly more expansive, first thing in the morning I was busy filling out the condition report for the fixings and so on in the flat (usual start of tenancy stuff), and then the Non and I went off to the agent's to deliver the thing. We had a week to do it in, you see, time up. Then rushed off to the library and had the quickest exchange of toys and books you've ever seen, and hared straight back to 14 Peak Street in Merewether heights

http://www.domain.com.au/Property/For-Sale/House/NSW/Merewether-Heights/?adid=2008181757 just in time for the open viewing (we met up with the Mr there, no time to come home inbetween times). Very odd place, this, although nice and tidied and so on, would be more or less a move-in place... but no go. Mainly because the important area that is the kitchen is simply irredeemably small, there's just no scope at all for making it much better. Also although there's VAST amounts of space upstairs where they've added another story, the space downstairs is still fairly typically cramped. Not bad, but not great. Interesting modification they had was that they had fitted a permanent bug-net over one whole veranda so you could sit out properly without being eaten alive - quite an issue here. Also interesting is just how much difference an awning or any sort of screen in front of the house adds to coolness. Very noticeable. However, I don't think on the cards due to terminally wrong layout.

Then back for lunch, and after a while I took the Littles out to get various bits and pieces. Still needed a rucksack at school, (got), then went to a different place to get the rest - three tubs, some compost and a small load of essential herbs - basil, coriander, rosemary, thyme, marjoram, and parsley. Also got some brackets to beef up the Non's desk with (rather woeful design and started to come apart at the seams almost immediately - now strapped up and hopefully will fare a little better) and a gas canister for the barbecue. Which has been sitting here for the past week and we haven't got round to putting it together yet - cooking woefully impaired. The Mr took the Littles out to the baths, while I put the herbs into their new pots and watered in - by the time I'd finished (or in fact not quite finished) they were back. It all goes pretty quickly.

So that's about it. Dull as ditchwater, but I guess some days are. Chores have to be done, I guess. Asked the agents about the redbacks and the roaches roaming freely about, and they'll hopefully come out and do something about it. It think the redbacks are pretty much surrounding the house, it was very unnerving stepping in and out of the patio while doing the plants, now all the webs by the base of the house look like redback webs - and the thing is, they probably are. You start looking at things in a different light - much more closely, for one. I took a look at the grooves of sliding doors between the bug net and the glass - some of them had webs in them, and there was definitely some movement but I didn't stop to examine what species, just shut the window. If it was the UK you'd just get the duster out (if you're feeling energetic) but here that might land you in hospital.

Bored now. Many good wishes to all the snotties out there, may your sniffles cease, you pains vanish and your aches disappear. Lots of love from us all xxxxxx