Growth demands a temporary surrender of security.

 
I'm thirsty.....

Pumpkin pie was not made last night, although a recipe was chosen. We are going to Glasgow this weekend, but will hopefully find time to make it. I have put the Pumpkin Pie craving into everyone....
posted by Leesa at 9:52 AM

 
Sweet, sweet pumpkin pie...
Pumpkin pie cake, pumpkin pie risotto, expresso pumpkin pie, mexican pumpkin pie, tofu pumpkin pie, pumpkin pie crunch, Ginger Pumpkin Pie, Diabetic Pumpkin Pie, Egg-free Pumpkin Pie, Australian Pumpkin Pie (I had never tasted it until I went to Canada…), Vegan Pumpkin Pie, Butterscotch Pumpkin Pie, No-bake Pumpkin Pie, Pineapple Pumpkin Pie, Impossible Pumpkin Pie, 3D Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Pie Bars, Pumpkin Pie Squares, Maple Pumpkin Pie, Autumn Pumpkin Pie, Honey Pumpkin Pie, Low-Calorie Pumpkin Pie, World's Best Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pumpkin Pie; the list goes on.....
posted by Leesa at 4:44 PM

 
There were numerous calls to restaurants last night in a vain attempt to find out if they served pumpkin pie. Craving PP. There is definitely a gap in the market…

Think I may need to pop the old apron on this evening and see what we can pull together. Then again, I could just wait for Iain to come back from Manchester to cook pie for me this weekend. (I promise to stop playing "Lucky Dip" with the boxes you've packed up by the front door for when you move house. Although, Gill "WON" a cute little butter dish the other night.) I need pie!!!!!....
posted by Leesa at 9:17 AM

 
Back in the summer of '82
There are going to be water restrictions this summer in Melbourne. There haven't been water restrictions for twenty years. Would have given me an excuse not to wash my car (not that I ever needed an excuse....).

Rusty from Mr Brown (looking oh so good in this pic) reminds me of Nigel from Fame Academy. Althought its pitiful television, he is my favourite.... (don't want to admit it, but I'm beginning to like East Enders. I actually know who is who. Most of the time they all seem the same to me, so usually I just guess what program is on by going through the list eg. Coronation Street, Brookside, Emmerdale, Teletubbies......)

Its just after 4pm and its dark....whats going on???
posted by Leesa at 2:19 PM

 
This weekend in the newspaper, someone had sent in a letter in claiming that the problem of rubbish in the streets was becoming as bad in the countryside as it is in cities. Her solution was it increase taxes to pay for more council workers to clean up the streets.

I would suggest putting money towards educating people to walk TWO steps to place rubbish in a trash can. Its not such a hard concept, but one that doesn’t seem to be understood by many….getting off my soap box now…..

posted by Leesa at 1:32 PM

 
I displayed the biggest fashion no-no this morning. I wore sneakers with my suit on the way to work. Such a BAD look, yet oh-so comfortable....

Little Fish, Big River post today made me laugh out loud - entitled Buy Low Sell High.

This article was written by comedian Justin Kennedy. Worth the read as it is very funny. Justin argues that we should fight against the use of drugs and more to the point, FOR drugs - for the rights of drugs, because they have feelings too.
His fight for freedom for drugs began when he was just six years old; ".....I could literally hear the Panadol beg for mercy as it saw the tip of the glimmering blade touch down on the chopping board, ready to complete its death dive. With the body of the blade only another second away from cleaving the pill’s guts in two I screamed “You’re hurting him,” like Elliot did in ET, but there were no BMXs or gravity defying miracles....."
posted by Leesa at 8:57 AM

 
Can you believe they actually make a David Beckham cake?
Can you believe I actually bought a David Beckham cake last night for G's birthday?

posted by Leesa at 8:50 AM

 
Cake and coffee/wine TONIGHT at our apartment around 8:30pm....

School was never like THIS in my day....

Clayton's Booger-Drill - little too much information!

"Chips, pies and peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeanuts!" (is that what they say at the football??). Now you can get your Dogs Eye out of Vending Machine.....(someone is sounding a little Australian today....)

Wayne Carey made out to be a hero? What a dickhead.


posted by Leesa at 8:48 AM

 
Congratulations to Iain for jumping out of a plane - parachute (not cape) attached.
Happy Birthday to Gillie Billie ("I'm not bossy. You can do whatever you want......as long as you ask.....") for tomorrow. Perhaps a restorante for dinner?
posted by Leesa at 12:20 PM

 
Great start to my Monday morning; bank teller machine out of order, left scarf on bus, left my office key at home. Then found out there was a shooting at Monash University at the campus five minutes away from my parents place. Two people were killed. Scary stuff.
Oh yeah, and its dark, cold, rainy and miserable and there was also an earthquake in Manchester this morning.
posted by Leesa at 8:02 AM

 
"i'm not an alcoholic i'm a drunk!"
"i'm not slur my speeching!"
The Things People say is very amusing.

Use in case of emergency; Good ol' fashioned Break-up Advice.

Have David Gray's Say Hello, Wave Goodbye in my head. Not sure why, haven't heard the album for ages. Looking forward to the weekend, we are going out to a "posh" (where did that word come from? I never use that word...) restaurant for dinner for Gill's birthday. Should be fun.


posted by Leesa at 9:00 AM

 
TOOK THE CHILDREN AWAY by Archie Roach
Today, one member of the 'Stolen' Generation finally received compensation, but most importantly acknowledgement. This is a good day, there is hope....
posted by Leesa at 3:18 PM

 
Nellie, you are such a rebel, pushing those boundaries to their extremes!

I am still so sick. Day Four. Doubt I will last the entire day in the office.

Having time off work hasn't been all bad, once I get over the guilt. Watched a couple of episodes of the first series of Round the Twist. Remember when Sam Van played Pete Twist? "Yeah I got it". "You know, tiny, little". Sam went on to play guitar with Plasticine (originally known as Superman). Sensational Melbourne band.

Oh and since I've been spending so much time lazing around over the past few days, Janelle, you'd be proud to know that my Logic Puzzle skills are developing quickly.
posted by Leesa at 8:20 AM

 
Testing Leesa's blog....
Testing Leesa's blog.....
Was at the Fox & the Firkin last night and have to say it is *so* not the same without you Leesa!
Love nellie.
posted by Leesa at 2:37 PM

 
Why am I here? I have no voice, and I feel terrible still. Think my bed and hot water bottle is calling....
posted by Leesa at 9:42 AM

 
I am actually embarrassed by the fact that I have not watched television over the past few days and seen the footage of the horrid incident in Bali on Saturday evening. I have however, read papers, spoken to my family, and caught up with the majority of the facts. Bali is a hugely popular holiday destination for Australians which is reflected in the number of deaths/injured/people unaccounted for.

I honestly (and obviously naively) thought that if things got too out of hand, regarding world matters, I would just pack up and arrive back in Australia. No one wants to hurt us, we are too far away in Oz. How Very Wrong....

PS. Will be interesting to see how much media coverage this event receives....

PPS. Happy Thanksgiving. Wish I was there - how I love pumpkin pie! Three thanksgiving dinners over three consecutive nights last year may have been pushing it, but when there is pumpking pie to be had, I'm your girl!!
posted by Leesa at 12:29 PM

 
I am feeling awful. Probably shouldn't be at work. My first cold for about three years. I don't pull off being sick very well....

Will comment on the Bali Tragedy when I can actually think straight....

posted by Leesa at 8:13 AM

 

"Twoallbeefpattiesspecialsaucelettucecheesepicklesonionsonasesamaeseedbun"

Just found this brilliant site which goes through growing up in Australia during the late 70's/eighties. Covers things like Catch us if you can, Wonderworld, Lunch orders, Dial a Dinos, moon boots, City Square's yellow peril, Big M's and the above tongue twister used for ordering a Big Mac at McDonalds.

Money grows on trees?
Speaking of childhood, via Rob, I have been browsing the site I Used To Believe which has readers contribute to some of the things they thought were real while growing up;
I used to believe that the Mr Whippy van played the Greensleeves music when he had sold out of all the icecream! My father was such a cheap bastard.

Yet to add my own. I did though, during primary school, convince my younger brother that I had x-ray glasses and could see what he was up to in the next room. Although he now denies it, he believed me for years...
posted by Leesa at 9:36 AM

 
Since I was a teenager, it has always been a dream of mine to visit Greece. For years I have talked about the “Shirley Valentine moments” I’ve always wanted to experience. Just over two weeks ago Janelle and I left for Rhodes (after my persistant begging of needing to go to Greece rather than Turkey, Spain or Egypt). It was brilliant….

Greece Highlights
Note in room : “Please do not bring drink or food other premises to this swimming pool. Thank you”

“We were going to do things together. What happened to togetherness?? You’ve ruined everything!” An exert of a speech as a result of a premature ice-cream run overheard by everyone on the beach.

Sergio. Oh my sweet Sergio, he knows the way to a woman’s heart.

Greek night. Donkey Dance. Crazy Billy. Crazy Billy’s crotch. No further comment.

Discovered my dislike of octopus (especially when pulled straight from the sea) to add to my list of cats, Australian Rules Football, mossy rocks, mice etc.

Tomatoes. I love tomatoes, but enough is enough!

Sunset in Lindos. A day of Shirley Valentine moments. Drank red wine while watching the sunset. Thanks Mike.

Disappointed by the fact that no Greek man ever said "I promise not to try to make fuck with you". That would have topped off the Shirley V experience!

Lazy Day Cruise. Otherwise known as the overcast, rainy day cruise. Was constantly humming the tune from Gilligans Island. Choppy seas on return – was brilliant!

Dinner in Lindos at a recommended restaurant called Il Bacco. I officially love Greece! Luna Bar for drinks. Challenge by the Australian bar man proved I’d watched The Curiosity Show in my youth ("thanks for asking")!

Anthony Quinn Bay – crystal clear water, absolutely beautiful.

Thanks Janelle, had a brilliant week. Hope your travels in Africa are as much fun!


posted by Leesa at 9:12 AM

 
Have been a little slack in sorting out my National Insurance Number (haven't called them about a promised interview I was to have). Not to mention my tax. Owed a rebate which could finance a long weekend to Dublin if I'm lucky. Today is the day I finally got the wheels in motion. Lets just see how long this will take, or if it will be another "opening a bank account" experience!

Found out a few days ago that a friend of mine is moving to Hong Kong.
J. and I haven't lived together in the same country for about four years. Was looking forward to going home and spending a bit of time with her - dinners at the Vege Bar then across the road for coffee! I did see her briefly in Melbourne late last year when our schedules allowed us to be in the same place, and then again in Japan for one night in January this year where we found ourselves singing karoke. Currently email every day which is nice, but there have been times when we wouldn't email or chat for months at a time. Still consider J. one of my best friends, wish her the best luck in the world and congratulate her on making another huge decision. I look forward to the day that we can hang out together for long than 24 hours at a time!

(Must say I am jealous as J. and another friend of mine have taken to my hobbie of walking around Albert Park Lake, one of my favourite places. Remember to go in an anti-clockwise direction, or 5km seems like an eternity....)

Adrian is rather amusing.
posted by Leesa at 12:08 PM

 
Not even summer yet in Australia, and already there are bushfires in Sydney. Engadine isn't too far from my older brothers place. Little scary that fires are starting up so early this year, think it could be a long, hot summer.
(Not even sure if we had a summer this year in England....)

Take that! Mr Blair. Harsh, but true...

Ohhh, look at that sad little face.... "Drama Queen" Number 2??!!
posted by Leesa at 8:28 AM

 

"Go You Big Red Fire Engine!!"

Would anyone like to attend a stand up show with comedian Adam Hills at the Wardrobe on Sunday evening? Guaranteed funny night....
posted by Leesa at 12:36 PM

 
Have Paul Kelly's I've Been A Fool in my head...
So you want a second chance
You want to start again, make everything alright
But I want to know if you've changed this time
Baby don't lie, don't you lie to me
What do you take me for?
I've been a fool, anyone can see
But I'll be your fool no more

You've got a way of talking
You could sell a poor man a bottle of air
But I want to know if you've changed at all
Baby don't lie, don't you lie to me
I've heard it all before
I've been a fool, most definitely
But I'll be your fool no more

Everybody love you, I still love you
I want you back, I need you now
But I want to know
Have you changed your spots at all?
Baby don't lie, baby don't lie
I've been a fool, I've been a fool

(Don't be fooled by this post, no sadness, just listened to this album this morning thats all!)

posted by Leesa at 8:19 AM

 
To be released, Oxford Dictionary of Rhyming Slang. I think this is mainly an English/Australian thing.

Few sayings I know off hand:
Jack and Jill : Bill
Bob Hope : Soap
Pat Cash : Pash
Dog and bone : Phone
Reg Grundy's : Undies
Britney Spears : Beers
Dead Horse : Sauce (Thanks Joe!)

Email me with others. My friend Brad, who I met during my travels, knew hundreds....
posted by Leesa at 3:43 PM

 
John Farnham really did get to play a gig at The Espy. With 400 people in the front bar, would there have been room for any famous Farnsy 'pointing'?

The making of Grease 3? Bring it on!
posted by Leesa at 9:37 AM

 
I'm pleased to say I've lived in both Melbourne and Vancouver, which were both top of the list as The World's Best Cities. Love them both, and thus I have to ask the question why...why am I living in the UK?


"Things my girlfriend and I have argued about" - Funny Blog.
- "Disappearance of the TV Remote. Precisely who had it last will be hotly disputed, witnesses may be called. Things can turn very nasty indeed when the person who isn't looking for it is revealed to be unknowingly sitting on it. "

Sure I could add a few points to the above blog.....(Remember Nellie and I having a good giggle over a ridiculous argument topic that I had with an ex-boyfriend...)
posted by Leesa at 8:37 AM

 
Back to reality...
Have broken two nails today. Is that a "sign"? Surely, that must be a "sign" that I shouldn't have returned from Rhodes. Should have stayed at least another week. I love the sun.
Holiday summary coming soon....
PS. Postcards either on their way, or to be sent this weekend!
posted by Leesa at 8:11 AM