She's back?

"Well, it's about time" I hear you saying (some of you, perhaps).  No? No one? Great start. I have don't know how I stumbled upon this dusty old URL, but I felt that I had some catching up to do. And while uni holidays and unemployment has left me crippled with boredom, I'm hoping that this might be the cure I've been dreaming of.

Yes, you read correctly, I am on uni holidays. That would make me a uni student. (Proud much?) Yes, the 16 odd months break from "Strawberries and Suncream"means that a whole heap of change has occurred without  my documentation. How fascinating would it have been for you to witness and laugh at the high-school-drop-out going back into study mode after 5 years of full time, mind-numbing retail. Yeah, you missed out on a lot of laughs. Or did you? Now that the dreaded first year is over, I now own a precious gift: hindsight. We know this already, right? Things are way funnier looking back at them. Or maybe you just "had to be there."

Try using your imagination, and laugh anyway. 

Hindsight 2011 #1: First day of uni. Being on my Ls meant that I had to catch public transport to uni. 2.5 hours later (as if this isn't already hilarious!), there are countless ways that I embarrassed myself and that others embarrassed themselves. One girl tried to make friends with me by saying "How IZ YOUUU?"... We are not friends in case you were wondering how that turned out.. And who could forget the classic moment when it's half way through the class and you realise you're in the wrong room. Not to mention the time you slip on the wet brick pathway and flash the outdoor smoking section and the entire left hand side of the library your least flattering pair of underpants. Or being so nervous for a presentation that you stutter the first 2 minutes of it, panic because you've got another 18 minutes to go, and BAM! GET A HIGH DISTINCTION BABY! (I seriously don't even know how I did that...)

I propose that this year will be a year to laugh at yourself, regardless of how awful it may be at the time. Or laugh that it's not happening to you. Or laugh because it is happening to you! Just think, "this will make for a great story".

There shall be more instalments to come of "Hindsight 2011" as I remember them. But let's not dwell on the past.. I have my 2nd year of uni coming up!

Melbourne.

We stayed in the Docklands.

Our room had an amazing view..

We walked the streets...

And drove around...

We visited an exhibition of Tim Burton's imagination...

We found a place where graffiti is beautiful...

I found a giant purse...

I bought a hat...

And I felt like a kid again...

Melbourne, it was truely a pleasure.

The adventures of Lumpy and Bobbin

The adventure begins on Saturday 17th July, when Auntie Em and Uncle Shane come over to take care of their Aussie-bound nieces, Lilly (5) and Arin (4). (Mummy and Daddy were overseas, having a well-earned break. So a few of us put our heads together and decided it was a great idea to look after the girly bugs while they were gone.)

Lil really missed Mummy and Daddy and was regularly upset. 

Arin was fine doing her own thing.

Then Auntie Jana came to stay.

We had so much fun!

Even amidst the incredible amounts of sleep lost, the nightmares, the vomitting, the rushing around, the cooking, the tanties.....

I can't wait to have my own!!

a creative release

This is ceramics. I don't mind it so far!

FernGully

Dear Caitlin,

As you know, I have quite a collection of video tapes. I do not go out of my way to get them, but have a squiz in the VHS section of all op shops, market stalls and garage sales. I do have a list of films that would be ultimate for my collection. And while that list is continuously growing, there are one or two that are just impossible to find at these locations. (I'm positive most households still have one lying around somewhere-I was even in possession of one as a child.) I am talking of course about Fern Gully. (Or is it the one word?) This masterpiece has helped me grow up with a sense of humour, an appreciation for nature and a curiosity about lab-tested animals (could they really talk to humans?).

Well Caitlin, I was in Cronulla's St. Vincint de Paul last week. They happened to have 50% off everything store wide. I looked at the Video section first (as it is very conveniently situated right near the front door). It was overloaded with old-school videos. I managed to find two copies of Labyrinth (YES DAVID BOWIE!), The Muppet Christmas Carol, Wallace and Gromit, Strictly Ballroom, series 5 of X-Files and a whole lot more. As I turned to head up to the back end of the store (usually where the childrens videos are kept), a big plastic storage tub caught my eye where my feet just were. I should have politely asked if I was aloud a sticky beak.. But I held back for no one.

Yes, Caitlin. I found Fern Gully! I whooped and cheered, blocking off the entrance to the popular store. And I promised you when I found it to give you the highlights after watching it.

So many highlights!

First, Maggie (I always think of noodles when I hear her name) has flowers grow in her trail. HOW FLIPPIN SWEET IS THAT?!

Second, Zac tells Crysta that she is "One bodatious babe". To which she replies "Tubulour!"

But my absolute favourite part that I quote at least once a day is a line from Batty:

"Human tales? Humans don't have tails. They have big, big bottoms that they wear with bad shorts. They walk around saying 'Hi, Helen!'"

I still laugh, everytime.

Caleb Luke Sarlow

It's nice to know that the Sarlow name will continue on for another generation.

Congrats, Nathan, Kellie & Isabelle! 

I miss you all so bad.

doodle-ee-doo

One day, I was feeling a bit down.. So I decided to visit my friends at Engadine Florist...

And it turned out to be a pretty flippin good day.