I've rather let the cobwebs grow around here for the last month and a bit. But I have a good excuse! No really.
I was undertaking a wonderful piece of crazyness - Nanowrimo. For those of you who can't be bothered to click on a link, Nanowrimo (or simply Nano to its friends) is the National Novel Writing Month where a person undertakes to write a 50 000 word novel over the month of November. As much as I have missed rambling away in my blog the idea of writing any thing that didn't contribute towards my word count gave me the heebie jeebies. I could barely bring myself to update my facebook status.
And guess what? I did it! It is 30 000 words longer than any thing else I have ever written in my life.
If you break it down, the challenge is to write a minimum of 1667 words each day for 30 days. As a former arts student, churning out that amount in an hour or so isn't really that hard. It's doing it every day come rain, hail, teething babies, end of year plays, writers block, couldn't be bothered-ness or shine that is the issue. But I got through it!
What did I get out of it?
1) A 50 000 word novel that I would not otherwise have written.
2) A certificate I printed out to certify "M2T author of Pendragon 2025 a WINNER of the 2009 National Novel Writing Month contest" which is blu tacked over my computer desk.
3) An appreciation of what just a little dedicated work each day can achieve.
"So," I hear you ask, "have you finished your novel? Are you carefully tending and nurturing it into a fully fledged book? Are you pursuing the editing process with heartful verve and vigour?"
"Umm," I answer. "No?"
But, gentle reader, there are plans afoot! And hopefully once the Christmas insanity has died down a little you might hear more of my crazy little project. Or possibly you might not. We will just have to wait and see.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Sexual Assault Prevention Tips Guaranteed to Work!
Found on a blog. Very useful tips to prevent assault.
Sexual Assault Prevention Tips Guaranteed to Work!
1. Don’t put drugs in people’s drinks in order to control their behavior.
2. When you see someone walking by themselves, leave them alone!
3. If you pull over to help someone with car problems, remember not to assault them!
4. NEVER open an unlocked door or window uninvited.
5. If you are in an elevator and someone else gets in, DON’T ASSAULT THEM!
6. Remember, people go to laundry to do their laundry, do not attempt to molest someone who is alone in a laundry room.
7. USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM! If you are not able to stop yourself from assaulting people, ask a friend to stay with you while you are in public.
8. Always be honest with people! Don’t pretend to be a caring friend in order to gain the trust of someone you want to assault. Consider telling them you plan to assault them. If you don’t communicate your intentions, the other person may take that as a sign that you do not plan to rape them.
9. Don’t forget: you can’t have sex with someone unless they are awake!
10. Carry a whistle! If you are worried you might assault someone “on accident” you can hand it to the person you are with, so they can blow it if you do.
And, ALWAYS REMEMBER: if you didn’t ask permission and then respect the answer the first time, you are commiting a crime — no matter how “into it” others appear to be.
Sexual Assault Prevention Tips Guaranteed to Work!
1. Don’t put drugs in people’s drinks in order to control their behavior.
2. When you see someone walking by themselves, leave them alone!
3. If you pull over to help someone with car problems, remember not to assault them!
4. NEVER open an unlocked door or window uninvited.
5. If you are in an elevator and someone else gets in, DON’T ASSAULT THEM!
6. Remember, people go to laundry to do their laundry, do not attempt to molest someone who is alone in a laundry room.
7. USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM! If you are not able to stop yourself from assaulting people, ask a friend to stay with you while you are in public.
8. Always be honest with people! Don’t pretend to be a caring friend in order to gain the trust of someone you want to assault. Consider telling them you plan to assault them. If you don’t communicate your intentions, the other person may take that as a sign that you do not plan to rape them.
9. Don’t forget: you can’t have sex with someone unless they are awake!
10. Carry a whistle! If you are worried you might assault someone “on accident” you can hand it to the person you are with, so they can blow it if you do.
And, ALWAYS REMEMBER: if you didn’t ask permission and then respect the answer the first time, you are commiting a crime — no matter how “into it” others appear to be.
Friday, October 9, 2009
More parent's room reviews
This one is from Myer in Bankstown. Overall it's quite a good room and I tend to visit here rather than the one that is part of Bankstown Centro.
It features pretty much all mod cons. If you look to your right you will see a sink.
The wall pictures are quite good even if Dora's foot appears to be coming out of her stomach.
If we are out for more than a couple of hours I will bring Trogdor here to crawl around on the carpet and play with the blue thingy on the wall. Honestly, I don't know how clean the carpet is but I trust each time he plays here his immune system gets that little bit stronger.
I'm not sure I see the point of having so many bins to so few change mats. It seems like they are prepared to not have the bins cleaned out all that often. On the other hand it's only rarely that the room smells like too many nappies.
A microwave. I assume it works.
The 'private' feeding room. This room seats two people and does not lock. It has another blue play station thing attached to the wall for older children while baby is having a feed. Honestly, the chairs are not the best for feeding. They are not particularly comfortable and once you have a bigger baby (or a humongous baby in the case of Troggers) you spend the feed trying to support their head off the hard, uncomfortable arm rests while your hand gets squished against the hard, uncomfortable arm rest. The Thomas picture has been both a blessing and a curse for me. Little one was fascinated with it from the first time he saw it but it also distracted him from booba. So after we went in we had to spend five minutes standing in front of Thomas while Troggers patted and cooed to him and then we could settle down to our feed but ONLY if Thomas was either a) totally out of Trogger's line of sight or b) directly in front of him. If he was there but obscured Trogdor would keep pulling off to get a better view. There are chairs available in the change/play room as well.
The toilets. The room is quite large and you could easily bring both a pram and a shopping trolley in with you if you needed to.
High chairs in the changing/play room with another Thomas.
And there you have it. My second review.
It features pretty much all mod cons. If you look to your right you will see a sink.
If we are out for more than a couple of hours I will bring Trogdor here to crawl around on the carpet and play with the blue thingy on the wall. Honestly, I don't know how clean the carpet is but I trust each time he plays here his immune system gets that little bit stronger.
I'm not sure I see the point of having so many bins to so few change mats. It seems like they are prepared to not have the bins cleaned out all that often. On the other hand it's only rarely that the room smells like too many nappies. 
A microwave. I assume it works. 
The 'private' feeding room. This room seats two people and does not lock. It has another blue play station thing attached to the wall for older children while baby is having a feed. Honestly, the chairs are not the best for feeding. They are not particularly comfortable and once you have a bigger baby (or a humongous baby in the case of Troggers) you spend the feed trying to support their head off the hard, uncomfortable arm rests while your hand gets squished against the hard, uncomfortable arm rest. The Thomas picture has been both a blessing and a curse for me. Little one was fascinated with it from the first time he saw it but it also distracted him from booba. So after we went in we had to spend five minutes standing in front of Thomas while Troggers patted and cooed to him and then we could settle down to our feed but ONLY if Thomas was either a) totally out of Trogger's line of sight or b) directly in front of him. If he was there but obscured Trogdor would keep pulling off to get a better view. There are chairs available in the change/play room as well.
And there you have it. My second review.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Happy Birthday Trogdor!
Today little boy turned one. The family is now in a sugar induced haze in front of the TV - all except little boy who has very sensibly decided to pass out in his cot. A few notes of the happy event.
a) Rather than the picnic we had originally planned, family and friends crowded in to our little apartment to escape the rain outside.
b) Troggers scored some excellent pressies whichSpidermonkey and I he will love playing with.
c) In line with family tradition we totally over catered and will be eating left over chicken/salad/slices until Christmas.
d) Mum made possibly the best hippopotamus cake in the history of the world that wasn't actually made from hippopotamus.
e) Little boy had his first tiny bite of cake. Which he spat out. He prefers watermelon.
f) Little boy was surrounded by many of the people I hope will be there for his party next year, and the year after that. People I hope he will know and love as he grows up.
g) Trogger's cousin and Babydonk were there. It was amazing having 3 babies in the house - all feeding, crying, laughing, playing and sleeping at various times. We had 11 adults in the house and it still didn't feel like we had enough hands. Much kudos to parents of multiples!
It was a bitter sweet day. Thinking back to what I was doing a year ago (sad and happy thoughts). Imagining forward to what we will be doing in a years time (exciting, scary and happy thoughts).
There are a few things that you are told you will never understand until you become a parent. The first is that you won't know your capacity to love until you have a child. The second is you won't know how tired, frustrated and clueless you will feel after you have a child. The third is how quickly they seem to grow up. Every one is right by the way. Especially about the growing up thing.
I mean seriously, how do you go from this -
To this -
in a year?
a) Rather than the picnic we had originally planned, family and friends crowded in to our little apartment to escape the rain outside.
b) Troggers scored some excellent pressies which
c) In line with family tradition we totally over catered and will be eating left over chicken/salad/slices until Christmas.
d) Mum made possibly the best hippopotamus cake in the history of the world that wasn't actually made from hippopotamus.
f) Little boy was surrounded by many of the people I hope will be there for his party next year, and the year after that. People I hope he will know and love as he grows up.
g) Trogger's cousin and Babydonk were there. It was amazing having 3 babies in the house - all feeding, crying, laughing, playing and sleeping at various times. We had 11 adults in the house and it still didn't feel like we had enough hands. Much kudos to parents of multiples!
It was a bitter sweet day. Thinking back to what I was doing a year ago (sad and happy thoughts). Imagining forward to what we will be doing in a years time (exciting, scary and happy thoughts).
There are a few things that you are told you will never understand until you become a parent. The first is that you won't know your capacity to love until you have a child. The second is you won't know how tired, frustrated and clueless you will feel after you have a child. The third is how quickly they seem to grow up. Every one is right by the way. Especially about the growing up thing.
I mean seriously, how do you go from this -
To this -
in a year?
Friday, September 25, 2009
It's a YouTube-y type of day...
Don't think it should be titled 'Why Moms Can't Do Yoga'. Maybe 'Mom Finds a Way To Get Better Let Down'.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
A game
The girls in the teenage class introduced me to a new game. The game is called 'Penis'. The aim of the game is to say the word 'penis' more loudly (louder?) than the last person who said it. Essentially it's a room full of people screaming 'penis' at the top of their lungs.
They started this game during rehearsals for the end of year play. I asked them to stop before somebody called DOCS.
Nobody mentioned how to deal with these sort of things while I was at uni.
They started this game during rehearsals for the end of year play. I asked them to stop before somebody called DOCS.
Nobody mentioned how to deal with these sort of things while I was at uni.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
The Summer Day
Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean--
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down,
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean--
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down,
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
~ Mary Oliver ~
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
~ Mary Oliver ~
Monday, September 21, 2009
Parent's Room Adventures
For an able bodied person with out a pram the world is your oyster - provided it's an oyster that's easy to get around and doesn't require lifts or travellators. For a person with a pram the world is shrunk to those places with 'disability access'.
A mother with a new baby doesn't go from home to city to shop to cafe. Instead it's more like - home to parent's room to shop near parent's room to cafe with room for pram and also near parents room.*
When Troggers was born I had a shocking time with my supply (for the uninitiated that means I wasn't producing enough breast milk). I was using one of these which involved sticky taping tubes to my breast whilst simultaneously getting a new born to latch properly while not letting all the milk run out over my shirt. Sigh. Fun times. So I was reluctant to feed in public and parenting rooms which were pleasant to sit in and clean became very important. (Since then I have fed in planes, train and automobiles but that's an entirely different post)
Some issues immediately presented themselves:
1) Not all parenting rooms are created equal.
2) Some are just glorified toilets. Infact, some make toilets look like havens of hygiene.
3) Some parenting rooms are obviously designed by people who have never had children. Or have met any children. Or ever were children.
4) No one wants to tell you where the good ones are.
So, in an effort to make this blog a little bit useful to mums I am going to start doing parent's room reviews.
This parent's room is found near JB HiFi in the Galeries Victoria in the City. It's my favourite City parent's room at the moment.
The pros:
1) It is a bit of a secret so it's very rarely used.
2) Every time I have been there it has been clean and it smells fresh. No over full nappy bin smell!
3) It has a button to open the door as you go in. I hate struggling with doors and a pram.
4) The toilet is large enough to wheel the pram in with you. Crazily enough some parent's rooms seem to expect you to leave the pram outside while you go to the loo.
5) It has one of these thingys. I've never used it and I assume it's only useful if you have a bottle of food rather than something stored in tupperware.
6) It has a sink and change tray/table/fold away thingy.
Cons:
1) It only has one chair to breastfeed in and it's out in the open. As very few people go there it wasn't a huge issue for me. The chair itself is comfortable and roomy.
If you're very lucky Trogdor's feet might appear next to you.
So, there you go. My first review.
* Having one of these is a life saver at times but as Trogdor was 13kg by 7 months a big day out meant I needed to have a pram with me.
A mother with a new baby doesn't go from home to city to shop to cafe. Instead it's more like - home to parent's room to shop near parent's room to cafe with room for pram and also near parents room.*
When Troggers was born I had a shocking time with my supply (for the uninitiated that means I wasn't producing enough breast milk). I was using one of these which involved sticky taping tubes to my breast whilst simultaneously getting a new born to latch properly while not letting all the milk run out over my shirt. Sigh. Fun times. So I was reluctant to feed in public and parenting rooms which were pleasant to sit in and clean became very important. (Since then I have fed in planes, train and automobiles but that's an entirely different post)
Some issues immediately presented themselves:
1) Not all parenting rooms are created equal.
2) Some are just glorified toilets. Infact, some make toilets look like havens of hygiene.
3) Some parenting rooms are obviously designed by people who have never had children. Or have met any children. Or ever were children.
4) No one wants to tell you where the good ones are.
So, in an effort to make this blog a little bit useful to mums I am going to start doing parent's room reviews.
This parent's room is found near JB HiFi in the Galeries Victoria in the City. It's my favourite City parent's room at the moment.
The pros:
1) It is a bit of a secret so it's very rarely used.
2) Every time I have been there it has been clean and it smells fresh. No over full nappy bin smell!
3) It has a button to open the door as you go in. I hate struggling with doors and a pram.
4) The toilet is large enough to wheel the pram in with you. Crazily enough some parent's rooms seem to expect you to leave the pram outside while you go to the loo.
5) It has one of these thingys. I've never used it and I assume it's only useful if you have a bottle of food rather than something stored in tupperware.
6) It has a sink and change tray/table/fold away thingy.
Cons:
1) It only has one chair to breastfeed in and it's out in the open. As very few people go there it wasn't a huge issue for me. The chair itself is comfortable and roomy.
If you're very lucky Trogdor's feet might appear next to you.
So, there you go. My first review.
* Having one of these is a life saver at times but as Trogdor was 13kg by 7 months a big day out meant I needed to have a pram with me.
Friday, September 18, 2009
With silver bells and cockle shells
Thought I would post an update on my gardening adventures.
Even though we are on the second floor of a block of units the balcony is now never referred to as 'the balcony' - it is 'the garden'. Each morning Trogdor and I inspect the garden together i.e I look at the plants and he eats dirt. In the evening I check the garden again to make sure nothing has wilted or been devoured. I'm a trifle obsessive about it these days.
It all started in June of this year when I thought I would pick up a couple of dwarf fruit trees to provide a bit of greenery and (hopefully) fruit. Then I decided to try to grow tomatoes. Things just sort of got out of hand from there.
I began well before I had any idea of what I was doing. The majority of the 'hardware' (the polystyrene boxes, large tubs, drink-bottle-watering-cans and packing crates) have been 're-purposed' after I found them lying on footpaths around the suburb. I like to think of it as 'County Garden meets Mad Max'.
Some of my garden has been grown from seed (which I think is a hella impressive even if the plants themselves aren't) and some of them are from seedlings (less impressive effort with a more impressive result).
From seeds:
Roma Tomato seedlings. The white around the base is potash which is meant to be very good for them but no two gardeners can decide when is the best time to apply them to the plant.
The first of my basil seeds to germinate.
The first of my 'Cottage Mix' flower baskets. I should be thinning the seedlings but I'm just going to let them grow and see what happens. (Is it odd that I feel horribly guilty after chopping out perfectly healthy plants?)
The second of my flower baskets. This one was sown more thinly with seeds so we'll see how it goes.
Beetroot. Has been thinned. Needs more thinning. (I feel like my garden is on some sort of Jenny Craig ad.)
Coriander.
My snow peas. They have been growing like crazy and are my most impressive seed grown plants.
Things I didn't grow from seed:
Passion fruit. I think it has some sort of fungal whatzi so I've been spraying it with whatzi fungal pesticide. It's going to need a much bigger container if it's going to grow. Luckily I have some 're-purposed' 20L Omo buckets.
Asparagus. I have no idea how to grow asparagus. Apparently it will be another two years before it starts growing spears and only if I chop it all back, mulch it, replant it, give it lots/little/no water and/or fertilizer, sacrifice a goat to the asparagus gods... Plus, it's covered in tiny bugs. I don't think they're meant to be there.
An amused Trogdor, who can't understand why I don't get my food from booba like sensible people do.
(He should probably be in the 'grown from seed' section')
My three strawberry plants with one flower between them.
Spring onions.
My peach tree - formerly known as 'stick in a bag'.
I have also developed an interest in heirloom/heritage tomatoes. I have a few seedlings struggling away at the moment but they're a bit depressing really.
And there you have it folks. My garden.
Even though we are on the second floor of a block of units the balcony is now never referred to as 'the balcony' - it is 'the garden'. Each morning Trogdor and I inspect the garden together i.e I look at the plants and he eats dirt. In the evening I check the garden again to make sure nothing has wilted or been devoured. I'm a trifle obsessive about it these days.
It all started in June of this year when I thought I would pick up a couple of dwarf fruit trees to provide a bit of greenery and (hopefully) fruit. Then I decided to try to grow tomatoes. Things just sort of got out of hand from there.
I began well before I had any idea of what I was doing. The majority of the 'hardware' (the polystyrene boxes, large tubs, drink-bottle-watering-cans and packing crates) have been 're-purposed' after I found them lying on footpaths around the suburb. I like to think of it as 'County Garden meets Mad Max'.
Some of my garden has been grown from seed (which I think is a hella impressive even if the plants themselves aren't) and some of them are from seedlings (less impressive effort with a more impressive result).
From seeds:
Roma Tomato seedlings. The white around the base is potash which is meant to be very good for them but no two gardeners can decide when is the best time to apply them to the plant.
The first of my basil seeds to germinate.
The second of my flower baskets. This one was sown more thinly with seeds so we'll see how it goes.
Beetroot. Has been thinned. Needs more thinning. (I feel like my garden is on some sort of Jenny Craig ad.)
Coriander.
Marigolds. These desperately need to be thinned out. My plan is to replant them into little pots this weekend and give them out as presents.
My snow peas. They have been growing like crazy and are my most impressive seed grown plants.Things I didn't grow from seed:
Passion fruit. I think it has some sort of fungal whatzi so I've been spraying it with whatzi fungal pesticide. It's going to need a much bigger container if it's going to grow. Luckily I have some 're-purposed' 20L Omo buckets.
Parsley. Needs re-potting. I have also been growing parsley from seed but it's harder than I thought it would be. Apparently the seeds have a very low germination rate and even if they do germinate I've found them to be quite temperamental (they just die for no discernible reason)
Dwarf lemon tree. Lots of flowers. All the other lemons in the area are covered with fruit so I don't know if the little guy is a bit backward.
Broccoli. I have to remove the middle row and re-pot them. Note to new gardeners - pay attention to the spacing guidelines when you're planting!
Asparagus. I have no idea how to grow asparagus. Apparently it will be another two years before it starts growing spears and only if I chop it all back, mulch it, replant it, give it lots/little/no water and/or fertilizer, sacrifice a goat to the asparagus gods... Plus, it's covered in tiny bugs. I don't think they're meant to be there.
An amused Trogdor, who can't understand why I don't get my food from booba like sensible people do.
(He should probably be in the 'grown from seed' section')
My three strawberry plants with one flower between them.
Spring onions.
My peach tree - formerly known as 'stick in a bag'.
I have also developed an interest in heirloom/heritage tomatoes. I have a few seedlings struggling away at the moment but they're a bit depressing really.
And there you have it folks. My garden.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Possibly the greatest song ever written.
Music has the power to soothe, energize and uplift. It is a wordless language that manages to speak to human emotions - some would say to their very souls.
But out of all the music written through out prehistory up until the present day which is the greatest? Which song can soothe the wild beast, calm inner turmoil and even let you feed a cranky 11 month old or give you enough time to change a pooey nappy before he tries to flip over and crawl away, bare bummed and fancy free?
Why this song of course:
By the 50th listening you might think you have discovered all the song has to offer and by the 100th you may be at the verge of convincing yourself you hate it but I beg you, gentle reader, push through to the 200th or even 250th listening. Become one with the music, the lyrics.
Understand what it is that truly drives us. Understand the nature of hope and desire. Understand what it is to want a hippopotamus for Christmas.
Is it just me or does any one else think it looks like the trombonist has shat in his instrument?
But out of all the music written through out prehistory up until the present day which is the greatest? Which song can soothe the wild beast, calm inner turmoil and even let you feed a cranky 11 month old or give you enough time to change a pooey nappy before he tries to flip over and crawl away, bare bummed and fancy free?
Why this song of course:
By the 50th listening you might think you have discovered all the song has to offer and by the 100th you may be at the verge of convincing yourself you hate it but I beg you, gentle reader, push through to the 200th or even 250th listening. Become one with the music, the lyrics.
Understand what it is that truly drives us. Understand the nature of hope and desire. Understand what it is to want a hippopotamus for Christmas.
Is it just me or does any one else think it looks like the trombonist has shat in his instrument?
Thursday, September 10, 2009
BMs with Dr Seuss
Pooey Poos for Pooey Pooing
That's what that Poo Poose is doing
Do you choose to poo poo too, sir?
If Sir, you Sir, choose to poo sir
With the Poo Poose, poo Sir
Do Sir. *
*I realise these posts are just getting stranger.
That's what that Poo Poose is doing
Do you choose to poo poo too, sir?
If Sir, you Sir, choose to poo sir
With the Poo Poose, poo Sir
Do Sir. *
*I realise these posts are just getting stranger.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Freud would have a field day...
In my dream last night a gay friend of mine was pregnant. Except Phillip is a man.
Apparently he had decided to be a surrogate for another gay couple and had a fetus implanted via IVF. The act of carrying the fetus released various hormones in him which caused him to spontaneously grow a uterus. (No, I don't know where he kept it before then. A shoe box maybe?)
I was absolutely gutted in my dream because after a 48 hour labour with no pain relief he managed to have a natural birth.
The last image I have of my dream is of me passionately telling some-one, a doctor maybe?, that it wasn't really a natural birth because after all, Phillip's a man.
Awesome. Apparently my subconscious hates me.
Apparently he had decided to be a surrogate for another gay couple and had a fetus implanted via IVF. The act of carrying the fetus released various hormones in him which caused him to spontaneously grow a uterus. (No, I don't know where he kept it before then. A shoe box maybe?)
I was absolutely gutted in my dream because after a 48 hour labour with no pain relief he managed to have a natural birth.
The last image I have of my dream is of me passionately telling some-one, a doctor maybe?, that it wasn't really a natural birth because after all, Phillip's a man.
Awesome. Apparently my subconscious hates me.
Monday, September 7, 2009
The Mother of All Rallies
There will be a rally today in Canberra. Briefly, it is about this -
I'm not there because I doubt Trogdor's ability to tolerate the car trip and I foretell a massive burnination by the end of the day. I wish I were though.
Let's be clear here. This legislation won't stop homebirths from happening. All it will do is force homebirth underground (no, not giving birth in mines) (although...)
When I planned my homebirth for Trogdor (which didn't work out, as it happened) I had a trained midwife who brought with her - a Doppler to listen to Troggers heartbeat during labour; resus equipment in case Troggers wasn't breathing at birth; syntocin in case I hemorrhaged; sutures in case I tore; a birthpool because they are cool and a whole lot of other stuff. If I want a home birth next time guess what I get? Probably nothing. No midwife. No medical support. No right to push a baby out of my own body where ever I see fit with the support I feel I might need.
Let me put it this way. Did banning homosexuality, inter racial marriages or the practicing of different faiths (among others) prevent any of these things from happening? Nope. And whatever my personal opinions about those things I'm not going to support the government in effectively outlawing them.
Look, homebirth isn't for every one. I know that. Believe me, it was a hell of surprise when I realised it was what I wanted to do. I know that many women, despite the arguments in favour of a homebirth, would rather be at a hospital and I'm fine with that. I'm not going to turn up at your home as your labour starts to chain you to the bed and force you to listen to whale music. But don't force me to get into a car and go to a hospital during a normal labour.
For those with concerns about the safety of homebirth you might want to check out these links.
Currently the House of Representatives is debating the Health Legislation Amendment (Midwives and Nurse Practitioners) Bill 2009 and two related bills to create Medicare funding, access to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and Indemnity insurance support for midwives. If passed into legislation in their current they will not provide funding or indemnity for homebirth midwives. This legislation will then intersect with National Health Registration legislation (to come into force in July next year) that will require all health professionals to hold indemnity insurance. This will prevent midwives providing homebirth care from registering and thus make their homebirth practice unlawful.
I'm not there because I doubt Trogdor's ability to tolerate the car trip and I foretell a massive burnination by the end of the day. I wish I were though.
Let's be clear here. This legislation won't stop homebirths from happening. All it will do is force homebirth underground (no, not giving birth in mines) (although...)
When I planned my homebirth for Trogdor (which didn't work out, as it happened) I had a trained midwife who brought with her - a Doppler to listen to Troggers heartbeat during labour; resus equipment in case Troggers wasn't breathing at birth; syntocin in case I hemorrhaged; sutures in case I tore; a birthpool because they are cool and a whole lot of other stuff. If I want a home birth next time guess what I get? Probably nothing. No midwife. No medical support. No right to push a baby out of my own body where ever I see fit with the support I feel I might need.
Let me put it this way. Did banning homosexuality, inter racial marriages or the practicing of different faiths (among others) prevent any of these things from happening? Nope. And whatever my personal opinions about those things I'm not going to support the government in effectively outlawing them.
Look, homebirth isn't for every one. I know that. Believe me, it was a hell of surprise when I realised it was what I wanted to do. I know that many women, despite the arguments in favour of a homebirth, would rather be at a hospital and I'm fine with that. I'm not going to turn up at your home as your labour starts to chain you to the bed and force you to listen to whale music. But don't force me to get into a car and go to a hospital during a normal labour.
For those with concerns about the safety of homebirth you might want to check out these links.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
I cried to dream again...
Last night I had a dream. A person who had died turned out not to have died at all. For over a year we had all thought he was dead but no! Last night, in my dream, he returned and was planning on meeting all of his old friends and surprising them with his sudden appearance. As I woke up I had in my mind the list of people I was going to call to tell them the good news. And then I realised...
Monday, August 31, 2009
Note I pinched from Facebook
1. What time did you get up this morning?
The first time? Around 2am.
2. How do you like your steak?
Paid for by some-one else.
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Harry Potter and the Half Arsed Adaptation
4. What is your favorite TV show?
Don't watch heaps of TV. Loved the Battle Star Gallactica series. Currently enjoying Stephen Fry in America.
5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
Rome. Hands down.
6. What did you have for breakfast?
Strawberries and ricotta. Cos I can.
7. What is your favorite cuisine?
Thai.
8. What foods do you dislike?
Prawn cutlets. If you have a perfectly good prawn why put it in breadcrumbs? And if you don't have a good prawn you're probably best to avoid eating it at all.
9. Favorite Place to Eat?
Rome :)
10. Favorite dressing?
Chocolate. Dressing/topping - same thing right?
11.What kind of vehicle do you drive?
Phil and Ted 3 Wheeler. (It's a pram to all you non-parents)
12. What are your favorite clothes?
Spidermonkey's old T-shirts. M2T burninates fashion.
13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?
Italy, Prague, Spain.
14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?
Knocked over and rolling about the floor followed by a laughing Trogdor.
15. Where would you want to retire?
Umm... Rome? (I'm sure I've made this point)
16. Favorite time of day?
Nap time! (Mine or Troggers - doesn't bother me)
17. Where were you born?
London.
18. What is your favorite sport to watch?
Ah ha ha ha. Oh wait, you're serious?
19. Who do you think will not tag you back?
Yeah, cos this was taken from facebook this question no longer makes sense.
20. Person you expect to tag you back first?
Rome!
21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this?
Rome again!
22. Bird watcher?
Only if they're trying to swoop me.
23. Are you a morning person or a night person?
Neither
24. Do you have any pets?
No. Sigh.
25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?
My peach tree is starting to bloom.
26. What did you want to be when you were little?
Monkey Magic.
27. What is your best childhood memory?
I had a pretty good childhood all round.
28. Are you a cat or dog person?
Dog.
29. Are you married?
Yes
30. Always wear your seat belt?
Yes.
31. Been in a car accident?
Nope.
32. Any pet peeves?
People chewing with their mouths open. The sound drives me crazy. CRAZY!!!
33. Favorite Pizza Toppings?
Chocolate - see point 10.
34. Favorite Flower?
Magnolias at the moment.
35. Favorite ice cream?
Hokey Pokey!
36. Favorite fast food restaurant?
The kebab shop across from the train station.
37. How many times did you fail your driver's test?
I'll let you know.
38. From whom did you get your last email?
Facebook. How tragic.
39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
If I had a credit card - Kinokuniya.
40. Do anything spontaneous lately?
Gave Troggers a big kiss.
41. Like your job?
Yup.
42. Broccoli?
Still growing.
43. What was your favorite vacation?
Trip to Italy.
44. Last person you went out to dinner with?
Spidermonkey.
45. What are you listening to right now?
Trogdor eating avocado on toast.
46. What is your favorite color?
Red.
47. How many tattoos do you have?
None
48. How many are you tagging for this quiz?
Any one who reads this. So... one? Maybe :)
49. What time did you finish this quiz?
3.51
50. Coffee Drinker?
Yes, yes and more yes.
The first time? Around 2am.
2. How do you like your steak?
Paid for by some-one else.
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Harry Potter and the Half Arsed Adaptation
4. What is your favorite TV show?
Don't watch heaps of TV. Loved the Battle Star Gallactica series. Currently enjoying Stephen Fry in America.
5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
Rome. Hands down.
6. What did you have for breakfast?
Strawberries and ricotta. Cos I can.
7. What is your favorite cuisine?
Thai.
8. What foods do you dislike?
Prawn cutlets. If you have a perfectly good prawn why put it in breadcrumbs? And if you don't have a good prawn you're probably best to avoid eating it at all.
9. Favorite Place to Eat?
Rome :)
10. Favorite dressing?
Chocolate. Dressing/topping - same thing right?
11.What kind of vehicle do you drive?
Phil and Ted 3 Wheeler. (It's a pram to all you non-parents)
12. What are your favorite clothes?
Spidermonkey's old T-shirts. M2T burninates fashion.
13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?
Italy, Prague, Spain.
14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?
Knocked over and rolling about the floor followed by a laughing Trogdor.
15. Where would you want to retire?
Umm... Rome? (I'm sure I've made this point)
16. Favorite time of day?
Nap time! (Mine or Troggers - doesn't bother me)
17. Where were you born?
London.
18. What is your favorite sport to watch?
Ah ha ha ha. Oh wait, you're serious?
19. Who do you think will not tag you back?
Yeah, cos this was taken from facebook this question no longer makes sense.
20. Person you expect to tag you back first?
Rome!
21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this?
Rome again!
22. Bird watcher?
Only if they're trying to swoop me.
23. Are you a morning person or a night person?
Neither
24. Do you have any pets?
No. Sigh.
25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?
My peach tree is starting to bloom.
26. What did you want to be when you were little?
Monkey Magic.
27. What is your best childhood memory?
I had a pretty good childhood all round.
28. Are you a cat or dog person?
Dog.
29. Are you married?
Yes
30. Always wear your seat belt?
Yes.
31. Been in a car accident?
Nope.
32. Any pet peeves?
People chewing with their mouths open. The sound drives me crazy. CRAZY!!!
33. Favorite Pizza Toppings?
Chocolate - see point 10.
34. Favorite Flower?
Magnolias at the moment.
35. Favorite ice cream?
Hokey Pokey!
36. Favorite fast food restaurant?
The kebab shop across from the train station.
37. How many times did you fail your driver's test?
I'll let you know.
38. From whom did you get your last email?
Facebook. How tragic.
39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
If I had a credit card - Kinokuniya.
40. Do anything spontaneous lately?
Gave Troggers a big kiss.
41. Like your job?
Yup.
42. Broccoli?
Still growing.
43. What was your favorite vacation?
Trip to Italy.
44. Last person you went out to dinner with?
Spidermonkey.
45. What are you listening to right now?
Trogdor eating avocado on toast.
46. What is your favorite color?
Red.
47. How many tattoos do you have?
None
48. How many are you tagging for this quiz?
Any one who reads this. So... one? Maybe :)
49. What time did you finish this quiz?
3.51
50. Coffee Drinker?
Yes, yes and more yes.
And then an odd thought struck me...
Trogdor loves to crawl. He's so proud of his latest accomplishment and he has an uncanny sense of, and attraction to, every thing he shouldn't get into.
I was out watering my garden this morning (it's going very well, thank you for asking) when I heard the fly screen door shut behind me. Sure enough, there was little Trogdor opening and shutting the door with great joy. He was having a wonderful time but alas, I knew that the sad conclusion of this game would be crushed fingers unless I intervened. So, being the dutiful, doting mother type, I went inside and picked him up. Of course Troggers, being the 11 month old baby type, chucked a tanty. His favourite trick is to put both feet against me, as far up my body as he can manage, and push away. This time he managed to get his hands involved too.
So there am I, trying frantically to hold onto this baby who is absolutely hating me with all the power in his little body while my stomach and breasts are being pummelled and yet I know that to give him what he wants (variously to be let go or to continue playing with the door) would result in injury to him and I would much prefer he hurt me - because I love him. This all lasted for no more than 15 seconds until he collapsed against my chest, crying and needing comfort.
And as he glared up at me - totally not able to comprehend how I could be so cruel as to deprive him of his fun and beginning to nuzzle for booba at the same time - I thought "I bet God feels like this about us too".*
* A note to any theologians reading this blog - please don't bother teasing out all the inaccurate theological implications of this post. Or, at least, do it your own blog.
* A note to any atheists reading this blog - we don't agree. I'm good with that.
I was out watering my garden this morning (it's going very well, thank you for asking) when I heard the fly screen door shut behind me. Sure enough, there was little Trogdor opening and shutting the door with great joy. He was having a wonderful time but alas, I knew that the sad conclusion of this game would be crushed fingers unless I intervened. So, being the dutiful, doting mother type, I went inside and picked him up. Of course Troggers, being the 11 month old baby type, chucked a tanty. His favourite trick is to put both feet against me, as far up my body as he can manage, and push away. This time he managed to get his hands involved too.
So there am I, trying frantically to hold onto this baby who is absolutely hating me with all the power in his little body while my stomach and breasts are being pummelled and yet I know that to give him what he wants (variously to be let go or to continue playing with the door) would result in injury to him and I would much prefer he hurt me - because I love him. This all lasted for no more than 15 seconds until he collapsed against my chest, crying and needing comfort.
And as he glared up at me - totally not able to comprehend how I could be so cruel as to deprive him of his fun and beginning to nuzzle for booba at the same time - I thought "I bet God feels like this about us too".*
* A note to any theologians reading this blog - please don't bother teasing out all the inaccurate theological implications of this post. Or, at least, do it your own blog.
* A note to any atheists reading this blog - we don't agree. I'm good with that.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Good times
I have a chocolate cherry cheesecake baking in the oven, a messy kitchen I have no plans on cleaning and I've spent the last hour laying on the bed blowing raspberries with my son.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
My balcony garden
Ever since I was a little 'un I have had a dream. A dream of verdant landscapes; fecund, hanging vines; quiet, green and lush nooks bespeckled by peeping flowers. A dream of a garden I had planted which not only didn't die - thrived.
I do have a green-ish thumb. Not vibrant green by any means. A faint green. Sort of like that blush of green on bread after it's been left on the bench after breakfast on a humid day. I have a mouldy green thumb.
I have had quite a few gardens since I was a kid. I'm okay with herbs. In terms of veg over the years I have successfully harvested a few tomatoes, a lettuce and a few handfuls of snow peas. In the back yard at my parents place there have been mangoes, bush lemons, macadamia nuts, peaches (unusual in the tropics) and custard apples but I can't take any credit for that. I enjoyed their fruits and managed not to kill them. Most of the trees were there when we moved in and a few of them are there still.
The initial stages of putting in a garden are fine. I can get seeds to germinate. But then I get busy - generally with theatre. Now that Trogdor is taking up my time I figured I now have the oppurtunity to sow some crops.
So, I have started again with a balcony garden. My garden so far comprises:
1 Lemon Tree: covered with flowers at the moment. I'm not sure if I should re-pot it. I'm a bit iffy about changing it when it seems to be happy.
1 Peach Tree: or as I think of it my 'Stick in a Pot'. It's not doing much at the moment. Maybe it's gathering strength and will burst forth with green and fruity vigour come November. Or not.
1 Passion fruit Vine
1 Asparagus Plant/Bush/Shrub/Thing: It has three teeny tiny spears poking up at the moment! I have no idea how many plant things I would need for a decent crop.
3 Strawberry Plants
Seedlings:
Spring Onions
Broccoli
Snow Peas: I'm growing these from seed and the first green heads appeared this morning!
Seeds that are sitting around in trays not doing much:
Parsley
Coriander
Marigolds - these seeds are so old I am not expecting to see any growth
Tomatoes
Wish me growing vibes! I'll put in some photos if I can ever find the camera.
I do have a green-ish thumb. Not vibrant green by any means. A faint green. Sort of like that blush of green on bread after it's been left on the bench after breakfast on a humid day. I have a mouldy green thumb.
I have had quite a few gardens since I was a kid. I'm okay with herbs. In terms of veg over the years I have successfully harvested a few tomatoes, a lettuce and a few handfuls of snow peas. In the back yard at my parents place there have been mangoes, bush lemons, macadamia nuts, peaches (unusual in the tropics) and custard apples but I can't take any credit for that. I enjoyed their fruits and managed not to kill them. Most of the trees were there when we moved in and a few of them are there still.
The initial stages of putting in a garden are fine. I can get seeds to germinate. But then I get busy - generally with theatre. Now that Trogdor is taking up my time I figured I now have the oppurtunity to sow some crops.
So, I have started again with a balcony garden. My garden so far comprises:
1 Lemon Tree: covered with flowers at the moment. I'm not sure if I should re-pot it. I'm a bit iffy about changing it when it seems to be happy.
1 Peach Tree: or as I think of it my 'Stick in a Pot'. It's not doing much at the moment. Maybe it's gathering strength and will burst forth with green and fruity vigour come November. Or not.
1 Passion fruit Vine
1 Asparagus Plant/Bush/Shrub/Thing: It has three teeny tiny spears poking up at the moment! I have no idea how many plant things I would need for a decent crop.
3 Strawberry Plants
Seedlings:
Spring Onions
Broccoli
Snow Peas: I'm growing these from seed and the first green heads appeared this morning!
Seeds that are sitting around in trays not doing much:
Parsley
Coriander
Marigolds - these seeds are so old I am not expecting to see any growth
Tomatoes
Wish me growing vibes! I'll put in some photos if I can ever find the camera.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
M2T - The continuing adventures
Well, I'm back.
Trogdor is now 10 months old. Ten months and a bit. When I made my last post Spidermonkey and I were 6 days away from meeting our son. He was still tucked away safely inside me and I, looking like an ancient fertility goddess (all stomach and boobs), was sitting on the sofa, surrounded by boxes we were yet to unpack, wondering if labour was ever going to start.
Five days later I was wondering if labour were ever going to finish.
Now, he is napping on the mattress in his room. The feet of his onesies are black with dirt - we spent the morning planting a garden. He is teething, and crawling, and his top lip is crusty with snot and grot from the planter boxes. He's feeding like a newborn at night - which is ironic as he didn't feed like that when he was a newborn, and he giggles hysterically whenever I walk through the door. He claps and laughs, he sings tunelessly and dances arrhythmical (much like his mother), he loooooves booba (much like his father), he is fascinated by light and plays with glow sticks endlessly. He soaks up love like a human sponge and it pours out of him and back into the world in general. He is a terrible flirt. All of our affection and attention are seen as fitting tributes and he accepts them with all the entitlement of a little deity. In return he is himself. Sometimes happy. Sometimes sad. Grumpy. Clingy. Loving. Independent. Joyous. Cranky. Cheeky. Playful.
I am sitting on the floor, with my back against our new, easy to clean, leather sofa. The boxes are (mostly) unpacked and I am surrounded by toys, cushions and discarded glow sticks. My figure remains largely unchanged...
Trogdor is now 10 months old. Ten months and a bit. When I made my last post Spidermonkey and I were 6 days away from meeting our son. He was still tucked away safely inside me and I, looking like an ancient fertility goddess (all stomach and boobs), was sitting on the sofa, surrounded by boxes we were yet to unpack, wondering if labour was ever going to start.
Five days later I was wondering if labour were ever going to finish.
Now, he is napping on the mattress in his room. The feet of his onesies are black with dirt - we spent the morning planting a garden. He is teething, and crawling, and his top lip is crusty with snot and grot from the planter boxes. He's feeding like a newborn at night - which is ironic as he didn't feed like that when he was a newborn, and he giggles hysterically whenever I walk through the door. He claps and laughs, he sings tunelessly and dances arrhythmical (much like his mother), he loooooves booba (much like his father), he is fascinated by light and plays with glow sticks endlessly. He soaks up love like a human sponge and it pours out of him and back into the world in general. He is a terrible flirt. All of our affection and attention are seen as fitting tributes and he accepts them with all the entitlement of a little deity. In return he is himself. Sometimes happy. Sometimes sad. Grumpy. Clingy. Loving. Independent. Joyous. Cranky. Cheeky. Playful.
I am sitting on the floor, with my back against our new, easy to clean, leather sofa. The boxes are (mostly) unpacked and I am surrounded by toys, cushions and discarded glow sticks. My figure remains largely unchanged...
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