green fingers

Whew, what a weekend. Hubby and I went to Sydney to do lotsa test drives of new cars - fell in love with a few, out of love with others. We've now narrowed it down to Top 2 - and fallback car. Basically if we get offered a deal we can't refuse we'll buy one of the Top 2 - if not, we'll happily go with the cheaper fallback car.

This morning we went to the nursery on the way back from our inlaws and bought lots of pretties to fill in the gaps in the cottage garden. This pretty pink fleur is a pincushion or scabiosa and it's just divine. We've also bought some gorgeous blue delphiniums, marguerite daisies, pink cleomes and a few other odds and sods. My Mr is now out weeding, pruning and preparing to plant, while I'm working away - one story sent off, another to finish.

Our gal refused to leave her grandparents' today so we've left her to play for a few days - something she loves to do in the holidays. That'll free me up to work, so I can spend some time with her later in the week. Next week we're off down south with friends for a six-day holiday. Bliss.

I'm now starting on my thousand loads of washing - it's been days since I've done a load so it's been piling up. Where does it all come from and how do large families cope?

Hope you've enjoyed your weekend and are starting on a fabulous week.

the spiel deal

Now, we've only been out car shopping twice so far, and here's my advice for the 'sales'men out there {yet to spot a salesgal yet...}

• Don't let me see you squatting between cars having a quick ciggie. Gross.

• Don't excuse yourself and come back with another 'sales'man saying "I've just got to see a customer, I'll leave you with..." Um, last time I checked I was a customer.

• Don't start talking torque with my husband and only making eye-contact with me when you're discussing seat trims and parking sensors. Sure, I don't particularly care about the engine's capacity, but let's pretend shall we?

• When I ask a question either give me an honest answer or ask someone else. Don't say, "Oh, I don't think so" when I ask something, and then, when I press you to find out for sure say "No, we're not getting that model in." You know what buddy, there's an internet out there and I ain't afraid to use it. You don't have it, the dealership down the road will.

ooh fluffy

Should I have a black-tie do to attend, and an unlimited budget, this frock by Oscar de la Renta would be sliding its way onto my bod.

Seriously, feathers, on a skirt - does it get any more fabulous? Oh, maybe with Drew's red metalic shoes from yesterday...

It's the weekend, a long weekend, and we've woken to rain. Lots and lots of rain which has very kindly washed away any lingering red dust on the garden, our cars and our pale grey house with its white-ish roof - it needed a clean.

Tomorrow we're trekking down to Sydney to test drive a few cars. I, of course, have already fallen in love with the first car I drove - typical - I'm so easy. Luckily my husband is far more hard-headed and won't be seduced by a fancy new interior and shiny, shiny surface.

Enjoy your weekend my lovelies x

ruby red slippers

Just when I am positive that my love for Drew is at a peak - she goes out in these shoes and I'm besotted all over again.

Oh, and that neckline? Fabulous.

Drew's on my can-do-no-wrong list. No matter what she does {even that odd two-toned bob she came out with last week} I shall always hold her way up high in my adoration zone.

frugal friday: a triumphant return

Today's post is all about living within your means. It seems like a logical thing, but when you look about, you realise how few people actually do. We're in the market for a new car. A NEW car. At the age of 42 it'll be the first time I've ever bought a new car. But the 18-year-old down the road from me? Her first car was a new car... My first car was a 1974 Toyota Corolla.

I was watching Tabatha's Salon Takeover the other night {my new addiction}. She went in to help a struggling business and was amazed that the owner, who had so much debt, had an enormous house, a fridge-full of Kristal, a corvette and a wardrobe filled with $400 shirts and dozens of pairs of jeans.

When we were looking to buy our first place I was amazed at how much the bank's would offer us - a scary sum. But we sat down, worked out what repayment level we could afford on one income {for when I had a baby} and what we could afford if the rates ever climbed to the record high of 18 per cent... So instead of buying the house in Bronte we could afford, we bought a one-bedroom apartment with a sun-room {which had a bay window just the right size for a cot}.

Moving back to Newcastle meant we could afford more, but again we did the sums and kept it within a reasonable level.

You've got to stay within your comfort zone. No matter how much I earn I can't imagine there's anything I'd be prepared to pay full price for - either I buy it on sale, or I haggle a better price. Funnily I used to feel as though that was a 'poor person's' tactic - but it's not - the wealthiest people around will never pay full price. Friends of ours who are much, much better off than us are the perfect example. The husband never pays retail and even ended up taking a month's holiday to paint their enormous house himself because it would cost him less than paying a painter. I won't go that far, but we do paint the handrails on our verandas ourself because it's such a labour-intensive task that'd cost a fortune if anyone else were to do it.

Now as for the car, I've learned a few tricks.

1. Haggle: get all the extras thrown in for nix.

2. Buy on the last day of the month. Dealers have quotas that they must reach. If they're meant to sell 35 cars and have only sold 30 they'll do anything to sell another - even if it's at cost-price.

3. Play dealers off against each other, "Hmmm, it's nice, but I really preferred the silver one we saw down the road..."

4. Walk away if you don't get what you want - you'll find it down the road.

Wish me luck. I know it's the start of the month, but we're just starting to look and test-drive. At the end of the month we'll be looking seriously attractive to the dealers who should be knocking themselves out to sell us a car at a bargain price.

shades of grey

I am becoming inordinately fond of the colour grey. And, oh my, this La Perla swimsuit positively shrieks chic does it not? Lying poolside in the south of France would require a swimsuit as glam as the location. Hmmmmmm.

nude's not rude

I fell a little in love with these, even though the colour would look rather odd on my skintone. That's the thing with olive skin - it rarely goes with anything considered flesh-toned or nude.

However, I'm all over the curvalicious shape of these shoes, and the stacked bow - now if they came in pink patent... ooohh la la!

that certain something

I love a spot of glamour. Even when I'm at my most poorly I instantly perk up with freshly washed hair, or pretty painted toenails. Grooming makes me feel good.

There was an interesting debate on MamaMia this week about grooming standards after you're married or in a long-term relationship and, as usual, I didn't weigh into the comments {I swear to god every time I do my comments are misconstrued by someone and it drives me insane!} but I did think about it.

I love my husband for who he is, and am pretty sure the favour's returned. That said, I try to pretty much subscribe to the same standards of grooming I maintained when we first met. I dye my hair regularly, wax legs etc and get dolled up for any event where we go out.

And I expect the same from him {not the make-up, waxing legs etc, just maintaining standards - you know}.

We've been together 16 years now, and I've added more than a few kilos to the frame he took up with, but, aside from a little bit extra to cuddle, I'm still pretty much the gal he met.

Some may say that looks don't matter, and yes, my husband will always look gorgeous in my eyes, but you've got to maintain the standards that feel right to you. I feel erky without my legs waxed - and yes, I do consider myself a feminist! I made the political statement growing out my underarm hair in Uni and combined with goat milk deodorant and vintage polyester clothing that was a disaster that shan't be revisited.

I believe the most important thing is to do what feels right for you, and your relationship. I don't judge anyone who feels comfortable in tracky daks and uggs most of the time {I know they're comfy - they're just not for sharing with the world as far as I'm concerned}.

All the experts agree that you've got to work at your relationships - maintaining kindness, laughter, affection - lasting love's worth it.

life lessons

Last night's dinner was a disappointment - but also a success. It was my Nigella slow-cooked lamb with macaroni which should have been delish, but was an epic fail - some could say it was on iSnack 2.0 scale of a fail {that's for the aussie readers...}

So, I hadn't written down the recipe. Fail one.

I neglected to include garlic. Fail two.

I bought the meat from Coles instead of the butcher. Fail three.

I bought leg of lamb instead of shoulder. Fail four.

I didn't cut off all the fat. Fail five.

I used white wine {as Nigella suggested}. Fail six.

Now, while this resulted in a bland, fatty meal it also resulted in me coming to a few realisations. Firstly, take note of all the ingredients in a dish, or use common sense. Which leads to 2. Everything tastes better with garlic - except pudding. No matter how busy you are buy meat from a butcher. Buy the right cut for the dish. Cut off fat from lamb when stewing, particularly when it's in a tomato-based dish. Otherwise it results in unappetising orange fat. Erk. Use red wine in rich dishes, white wine in subtle dishes. I like my red meat rich, ergo, I should always use red wine with it.

So there you go. Not Nigella's fault and I think that next time this dish could be a winner. I'll make it properly next time and post the recipe.

Now I'm off to apologise to my butcher for cheating on him...

monday's menu

After another week of no menu-planning it's time to step up. This week I'm all inspired by Nigella. Tonight's dish is based on one I saw her whipping up on one of her programs... and looks delish. Here's what we're eating

Monday Slow roasted lamb shoulder and macaroni casserole {recipe to come}

Tuesday Chicken pot pies

Wednesday Prosciutto-wrapped pork with braised red cabbage and roasted veg

Thursday Beef curry, spinach and rice

Friday Oven-roasted salmon, lemon potatoes and salad

Saturday Beef curry in the slow cooker

Sunday Pork roast with veg

mais oui, oui, oui

I knew it. I watched a new cooking show set in the South of France last night and it set me hankering for a southern soujourn.

Considering that you can rent a magnifique home such as this while you're there it seems like quite the option non?

A gal's gotta dream - particularly one who's got a lot of work on this week. Luckily my drugs have kicked in and I feel much, much better, which hopefully means I just had an infection and not glandular fever. I've been taking my penicillin and resting as much as possible so fingers and toes crossed my recovery's on an upward slant.

no place like it

Ahhh, spending the weekend at home - is there a nicer thing to do? We started the morning off with Omelette aux fines herbs - cooked by my gal and her bestie - with herbs from the window boxes. Delish.

Now, I'm slowly pottering about cleaning up the red dust {don't worry - not doing too much - and am feeling much, much better - the drugs are doing their job!}

Tonight's the premiere of Trish's Mediterranean Kitchen - set in the South of France. Guess whether or not that's going to set me plotting my next French soujourn...

big love

If I had to chose a couple's relationship to emulate it'd be Gomez and Morticia. His eyes lit up every time he caught sight of her, she looked like she wanted to devour him. Hand and arm kissing, uttering french endearments. Yep, that's something special right there...

mag hag must-have

When you're a patient, you need a stack of fabbo mags to flick through to make you feel better. My husband might need to go on a hunting and gathering expedition to Borders this weekend to pick this up for me. Tim Burton + High Fashion? Yes please.

poorly me

Well, my throat and general malaise hasn't improved over the week so I went to the doctor today, who looked at my throat, frowned, felt my neck - furrowed his brow and asked "Have you had glandular fever?" "Why no!" I responded. "Well I think you have now..."

Typical.

If you're going to get sick, might as well make it something dramatic. My friend, Ms M, was just diagnosed with asthma - in her 30s. 'Splains the cough she'd had for yonks.

Thankfully I work from home, so don't have to wear myself out travelling. Luckily I'm also ahead on my deadlines too. I'm listening to my body and working, then resting, then working, then resting.

Goodness, what a week!

pump up the volume

A gal should always have a pretty pair of pumps in her shoe arsenal. These Valentino numbers would gussy-up any get up - non?

isn't it ironic

So, the other day I'm putting away some DVDs and noticed how awfully dusty the tv cabinet was, "Oh, well" I thought. "I'm pretty flat-out at the moment, the dusting will have to wait." Well obviously mother nature didn't agree with me as now the dust storm is finally starting to settle and I'll be doing a helluva lot of dusting if I'd like to breathe easily in the next few days.

This pink duster would help...

well fine then

Okay, so yesterday I complained about the windy weather and today, the wind's decided to up it a notch and hand over the worst dust storm in NSW since the 1940s.

Choice.

I woke to a red armageddon sky and the sensation of dust tickling my tonsils - and the day has tended to worsen. 100+ year-old houses have their joys, but they tend to have the odd gaps where dust can creep in - even with the windows tightly closed. So I'm sitting with a tissue over my nose in an attempt to breathe.

My gal's stayed home from school, it's not worth taking her out in this crazy climactic condition. Hubby's been called home to bring me some ventolin - as, of course, I'm out of the stuff.

Seriously, how do people in the outback cope with these things?

Let's hope tomorrow brings clearer conditions. And less whinging from me.

wild n windy

It's a crazy windy day outside at the moment. Not quite Wizard Of Oz-esque - but damned close.

The sky's grey, leaves and grasses are being whipped through the air and the trees are scratching on my windows and clawing at the tin roof.

Sadly I think it's going to blow the last of the petals from the wisteria. It was a short season, but boy, was it spectacular.

I'm drowning my sorrows today, well, I'm attempting to drown my sore throat at least. I'm now onto my fourth litre of water - and still feel I'm dying of thirst. But then, as only hypochondriacs can, I worry that if I keep on drinking I'll drown myself from the inside out. Hmmm, might wait a bit for that next glass of water...

Apart from that, I've been productive - despite wanting to huddle in bed sipping honey and lemon drinks. Maybe once I've done the ballet drop-off at 4pm I can snuggle back into bed.

feeling frocktastic

Ah who doesn't love an award show - only for the frocks mind... I've been browsing all over the net at all the get-ups on display at the Emmys and wondered what I'd wear should I be nominated for best in my category.

Quite frankly I don't think you can go past sequins. But, see, I don't like just a sprinkling of sequins or beading on a neckline, hell no, it's gotta be totally sequin-tastic.

Oh, and I'd quite like to borrow Christina Hendricks' bod to fill out this frock. Thanks.