Christmas in July

Do you remember how exciting Christmas was when you were a kid? When a year felt like an eternity?

Sass is so looking forward to Christmas and so worried she'll forget what she wants, she's started her list (below). Let me translate...

1. Wetsuit

2. iPad

3. Matilda book

4. iPhone anything (ie 4,5,6...)

5. Clothes

Not content to leave it at that, she decided to get Elle organised as well. Eleanor dictated, Saskia wrote.

Here's her list:

1. Leonardo (Dicaprio)

2, A helicopter

3. iPhone 6

4. Clothes

4.  99.95 (VCE ARTAR score)

5. A trip to New York

6. Going skiing in Aspen

7. 1,000 finger buns

The similarities and differences between a 9 and 16 year old are kind of interesting!

Have you started your list??

I See You!!!

As you know, I can see it all from my desk at home. The people having the affair, the couple fighting.

In fact, it prompted my friend DC to shoot me these pics!

So, there I was this afternoon, tapping away at my desk when I glanced up and noticed a large black dog laying a steaming turd on our nature strip! 

I've posted about that too. 

And I am so sick of it!

I peered out and no owner was to be seen as the dog crouched and strained, strained and crouched.

But I figured it wasn't alone.

I dashed out of the house, inspected the evidence and spotted it, being muzzled by its owner outside the cafe on our corner. Well within viewing distance. She knew. By god, she knew. 

I trotted up but she had darted in to order her coffee. I wasn't perturbed.

I approached her in the line and tried to be at my most friendly:

Excuse me... I said, sweetly ....is that your dog outside? 

Yes! She said, face lighting up with joy, pride and the clear expectation of some forthcoming compliment.

It's actually left a huge poo on the nature strip outside our house... next door.... I pointed.

Her face fell and at least she had the decency to look mildly ashamed - at being caught. She hastily rearranged her features in a quick attempt to look surprised.

Oh!! Oh... I'll come back and get it.

Thanks. I said flatly, turning on my heel and flouncing out. (BTW - you can absolutely 'flounce' when you're wearing a white feather bolero and ridiculously high over-the-knee boots - trust me!)

She did come back. I spied her through the shrubbery.....

Back to the chili flake deterrent I think.

Apple Of My Eye

It's funny, isn't it? How as parents, we believe our children are so amazing that we imbue them with all kinds of talents they don't actually have? But no - I speak not of my own children, but my father, my siblings and me.

Let me give you an example:
One of my brothers is a pilot for a Middle Eastern airline that entitles my parents to some lovely, up-the-front deals. They were due to travel on one of the first planes offering in-flight shower facilities. Here's how that conversation went:

Dad             So do you get an allocated time during the flight to have your shower?
Brother       I don't know Dad, I've never been on it.
Dad            Is there a time limit for how long you can be in there?
Brother       I don't know Dad, I've never been on it.
Dad            Do they give you shampoo and soap?
Brother      I don't know Dad, I've never been on it.

I believe it was about then that Dad did in fact believe that my brother wasn't just holding out. He actually didn't know. But it took quite a few goes before he could come to terms with the fact that there was something - and something to do with planes no less! - that his son did not know.

Similarly, whilst visiting said brother a few years back, we took a side trip with Mum and Dad to Jordan. I had arranged a guide for the duration, starting at the airport. Having collected our bags, here's how that conversation panned out:

Dad        Righto MWW! Which way do we go?
Me         I don't know Dad, I've never been here
Dad       So what does this bloke meeting us look like?
Me        I don't know Dad, I've never seen him.....

Anyway, it is very sweet that Dad believes my brothers and I are the Google of his eye.