Monday 31 December 2007

December Roundup

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I am hoping They are right, because I haven't done much else to endear myself to you, dear reader. I have been a very bad blogger indeed. I can only promise I will try to make it up to you.

This month has been a topsy-turvy (whose December hasn't?) and I present to you a wrap-up of a few Moments of Significance.

1. Catering a friend's 50th birthday weekend gathering.

I somewhat rashly promised to do this back in, oh about August, and it all came back to bite early in the month. The party went for 3 days, and there were between 15 and 25 people to keep happily fed. Bbq one night, finger food for several hours, buffet dinner the next night.

Luckily it was held at the Birthday Girl's newly renovated country lodgings in Jamberoo, with a shiny new whiz-bang kitchen, and ample capable and willing sous-chefs on hand (capable meaning capable of taking orders!).

It all went swimmingly: no disasters, too much food (phew!), everyone happy, especially the Birthday Girl. And lucky me, she presented me with a little something: Secrets of the Red Lantern, one of my recent wish-list cookbooks.

2. Doing the Wiggle Groove.

The Wiggles came to Canberra, and of course we took PJ along. He got into it a little more than last time, and even took me down to the mosh pit at the front of the stage for a while. No dancing, just absorbing the atmosphere.


But it's still a very serious business, this Wiggles thing.

Note to ACT govt and operators of AIS arena as a venue: SORT OUT THE FARKING PARKING. What a shambles - and they socked us $5 for the privilege of sitting in traffic for more than 30mins coming in and going out. Total Shambles doesn't even come close.

3. Holidays at Nana and Grandpa's.

We arrived back home last night after 2 weeks staying with my parents at Corowa on the Murray River in southern NSW, for Christmas and the aftermath.

Highlights include:

  • Catching up on lots of sleep, as PJ sleeps in Nana and Grandpa's room. (Mind you, he sleeps through almost every night for them!)
  • Seeking relief from the summer heat by going for a swim


  • My Dad's World-Famous paella, cooked, like most of his creations, on his Weber:

  • Keeping PJ up til 9pm on Christmas Eve to walk around the corner to see the christmas lights. The animated Reindeer head that spoke to him by name freaked him out a little, but otherwise he got right into it.

  • The usual present excitement - PJ totally got the idea of gifts this year and we couldn't put anything under the tree until he went to bed on Christmas Eve because anything wrapped clearly needed to be unwrapped Right. Now. and was obviously for him. PJ very democratically played with all his gifts in turn, but I think the winner was this digger, made by his Grandpa:


  • I scored very well indeed on the gift front: an Ipod (once I figure out how to use the mongrel apple thing); not one, but THREE cookbooks (Delicious. 5 nights a week, My China by Kylie Kwong and Margret Fulton's updated tome); socks from my MIL; a gorgeous brooch from my parents. Lucky, lucky me.

  • A very decadent Christmas lunch, as prepared by the whole family
  • A lunch cruise on Lake Mulwala which captivated PJ

  • Eating fresh blackberries and icecream

4. Deadline Knitting

My brother, 6pm on Christmas eve: "Hey Georgie, you know how I'm going to Detroit in 2 weeks - don't suppose you fancy knitting me a beanie do you?"

Me: "Why not. Would you prefer this yarn, or this one?"

10am Boxing day: one beanie and one happy brother, thanks to Taph's TTWC. No photo, but hey, its a beanie.

5. Planning Failures

You would think that after my catering triumphs (see 1), I could organise knitting projects for 2 weeks. But no. Sadly, there was little other knitting aside from the emergency beanie, despite ample opportunity. I took 4 projects - one, I'm not happy with and will probably frog; the second, Beloved's Jet jumper, stalled because I didn't bring any more balls other than the one I was already halfway through; both the third AND the fourth, I didn't bring the patterns for.

Idiot.

6. Coming Attractions

I opened with an apology for my lack of blogging these last weeks. I hope you can forgive me when you see that I've been a little busy - and tired - growing this little critter:


Sorry about the crappy scan. Due July 3rd. Unlike my pregnancy with PJ, I have been nauseous and dizzy, and tired like Ive never felt. But now hopefully things will be on a more even keel and I will be back to my knitting, blogging, commenting self.

If I missed catching up with you before, I hope you and your loved ones had a very happy and enjoyable Christmas (or celebration of choice), and my best wishes for a gute rutsche (good slip) into the New Year.

19 comments:

amy said...

Oh, congratulations! To you, and hubby, and PJ too.

Happy New Year!! Very happy indeed.

Anonymous said...

A Baby!!
Congratulations :-)
Happy New Year xoxo

Bells said...

great to have you back online George! Lovely roundup. And lovely to see your little one growing, all happy and healthy. Keep up the good work! Happy new year to you all. xoxo

Taphophile said...

Heartiest congratulations. :)

Donna Lee said...

Oh congratulations! That is exciting news! I don't know how you managed to pull everything off while in the midst of a pregnancy. Happy, happy new year to you and your family.

DrK said...

oh you little secret keeper!!! im very excited for you both, huge congratulations. stay well, hope to see you soon. heres hoping for a brilliant 2008. kxxx

happyspider said...

:) what an adoreable black and white blob ;)
congratulations honey, glad you're feeling a bit better.

TinkingBell said...

What a cute peanut!! Congratulations - I know just how you feel - when pregnant with no 2 I just wanted to sleep - unfortunately the 2 YO thought that was a cop out - I would have died if it wasn't for playschool - used to snore on the couch every day for 25 minutes at 3.30! So happy for you! What a great chirstmas - and happy new year!

Michelle said...

Congratulations to you all! Wonderful news!

And happy new year!

Rose Red said...

Congratulations!! What a trooper you are catering for all those people when tired and nauseous - you rock!

As does PJ's digger - I'm not surprised he loves it. Perhaps you should have taken him round to Bells' place earlier this week, I'm sure Sean could have done with some digging help!

Happy New Year to you - how exciting!!

Alwen said...

Congratulations. Early pregnancy was a huge sleep-fest for me, too, especially with N. hemisphere short days, snnnnzzzzzz. Too bad we can't store it up, eh.

Sue said...

Congratulations. The 2nd pregnancy is always more tiring I think as you dont get to rest as much with another one to look after as well. Glad that you had a great Christmas too, and Happy New Year.

Anonymous said...

Ha! I love that you just snuck that one in at the end!

Congratulations :)

Lovely to hear about your recent adventures (geez you've been BUSY!!)

xoxo

Bron said...

Ooooh Georgie!!! congratulations!!!! =D xo

Denise said...

What a wonderful December you've had! Huge congrats on the baby news :D Being pregnant while also living with a toddler is MUCH more exhausting... rest whenever possible! :)

MadMad said...

OMG! OMG! Congrats! Way to sneak it in at the end! I was just reading along, happily sipping my tea and thinking, wow this is a great catch up post, so interesting, and ta-da! Way to end with a big bang! That's wonderful news! And a new excuse to knit, too! Even better! Yay!

Trent said...

Big Congrats to you and Bertie. Love you both(three), wish you a great 2008

trent

Olivia said...

Oh, cool, congratulations Georgie! I'm coming to this post a bit later, but better late than never...

Lynne said...

Ooooo, congratulations. Forgetfulness is forgiveable, even understandable. Rest up if you can.