1200 x 330

You might recall our horribly stinky rubbish bin. Still unfortunately stinky, mostly because it sits in the very hot direct sun for most of the afternoon.

We’ve decided that providing some shade might alleviate the smell somewhat, but are rather limited in what we can do in terms of street frontage – we can either erect some form of screen between the “fence” and the bins or put a planter on the “fence”.

Deciding which approach to take has caused a little discord. Don does not believe that plants can survive in the desert-like conditions at the front of ThePalace(OfLove). I disagree and think rosemary and mint would be the very things.

So, we did what any sensible people would do and resorted to Science! I have rosemary and mint, I will plant them in a container which I will place on the even more desert-like conditions on the top balcony and we will see what happens (already I am planning what the planter will look like).

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In other gardening news:

Unlike last year when there was an awful lot of waste, we are harvesting our chillies for the freezer as they ripen. The plant was gifted from Don’s colleague last year – they are pretty excellent chillies

This wee creature was on the sage. I am tremendously excited and hope it brings friends

2014 projects!

So, as I am sure you are well aware, I set myself 10 projects for 2013, which I achieved with varying levels of success (and which I’ll review separately). I’ve found this a really useful exercise to at least try to not the world pass me by in a haze of werk stress and randomly scrolling past things on the InformationSuperHighway!

So, rather than make separate posts for each, here is my list (of 11!):

  1. Project 2014: Running – get back to running 15km on a regular basis.
    As much as I would like to push harder, I am really conscious that I am prone to injury and that I need to take it easy. I’d love to do a half-marathon, but realistically that is more a 2015 goal.

  2. Project 2014: Frugality – buy nothing unnecessary in 2014
    We spent a whole lot of $$$ in 2013. I’d like to be more mindful about spending!

  3. Project 2014: Foodz – try a new recipe twice per month AND document it
    Weekly was too difficult to sustain, but I am fairly confident we can do fortnightly. I want to document because we’re somewhat hopeless at remembering things unless they are written down

  4. Project 2014: Micro-travel – Go away for (at least) FOUR weekends
    This will be four more trips than we took in 2013

  5. Project 2014: Education – Diploma of Advanced Manageressing
    Make time to do study / assessments 5 days per week. 20 minutes per day should have this course knocked over by the end of the year

  6. Project 2014: Escape – make plans for getting the heck out of SML
    I will hit the 10 year mark in December – which means I can take 2 months paid leave (woo!). I really want to work somewhere else after that.

  7. Project 2014: Try New Things – one new thing per month
    It can be anything – I just need to have not done it before (knitting cables for eg.)

  8. Project 2014: Romance – do one couple-y/date-y thing per fortnight
    We’ve kind of forgotten how to go out and do things together

  9. Project 2014: Watching – watch good film and television regularly
    One film per fortnight on GiantTelevision
    One television programme per week on GiantTelevision

  10. Project 2014: Sobriety – don’t drink too much alcohol
    While I don’t want to be quite as hardcore as in 2013 (though this was my second favourite project!), I really want to keep up with the not-much-drinking. Need to define some parameters.

  11. Project 2014: Reading – for every trashy book I read for teh lulz, read something proper
    I read far, far, far too many really quite dreadfully bad books (I’m looking at you, Clive Cussler) so that I might entertain Don and myself with hilarious excerpts.

There are a few other things I’d like to – listen more often to my favourite radio stations, stop being so passionate and invested in SML for example – but I think that is probably enough to be getting on with!

2014 not-resolutions: joan

Lastly, Joan’s list.

The review of 2013:

  1. Repay personal loan in 2012/13 financial year
    ACHIEVED! – amazingly sensible with money, this one

  2. Be less neurotic
    PARTIALLY ACHIEVED! – definitely less than in 2012

  3. Healthier lifestyle
    PARTIALLY ACHIEVED! – definitely eating less junk, not so much with the exercise

  4. Expand hobbies + interests
    PARTIALLY ACHIEVED! – became interested in the world game. played netball for a time.

  5. Determine future education + career goals
    PARTIALLY ACHIEVED! – moved to a sexy new job, determined what she *doesn’t* want to do with her life

And for 2014:

  1. Achieve savings goal
  2. Determine future education + career goals
  3. Cook more in the home
  4. Continue travels
  5. Learn foreign language

2014 not-resolutions: don

Now for my lovely husband

Review of 2013

  1. Proper golf handicap under 20
    ACHIEVED! down to 19 – woo!

  2. Finish better than 8th in Fantasy Baseball
    ACHIEVED! – 5th and first in Fantasy (American) Football (which was a surprise to everyone)

  3. Go camping more than in 2012 (so more than once)
    NOT ACHIEVED – need moar holidays

  4. Improve fitness through yoga & other exercise
    PARTIALLY ACHIEVED! – going pretty well until that broken rib thing.

  5. Paint all of ThePalace(OfLove)
    NOT ACHIEVED – unfortunately, I forsee this being on the list for many, many years to come. yes, we are those people with the half-painted haus

And for 2014:

  1. Make more beer – including a lager
  2. Make sausages
  3. Get handicap under 18 at home course
  4. Make play-offs in fantasy football and fantasy baseball
  5. Go camping at least once

2014 not-resolutions: joe/frank

Second up, my baby boy!

First, the review of 2013

  1. Achieve an ATAR of at least 70+
    NOT ACHIEVED – fortunately there is a plan for 2014 which does not immediately involve university!

  2. Start a project that will enhance my mind and interests.
    PARTIALLY ACHIEVED! – a lot more involved in the cooking and has become really quite good at it

  3. Broaden my horizons in interests.
    NOT ACHIEVED – no horizons broadened

  4. Get in better shape.
    PARTIALLY ACHIEVED! – unexpectedly lost tons of weight by stopping takeaway lunches, but this was counteracted by otherwise slothful ways

  5. Watch at least one French thing per week.
    PARTIALLY ACHIEVED! – off to a very good start, but fell by the wayside mid-year

And for 2014:

  1. A firmer idea of what I want to do with regards to working (i.e. a successful time at TTW)
  2. Become fitter. Start exercising more.
  3. Finish in top 8 of AFL and NRL fantasy leagues
  4. Get driver’s licence
  5. Cook at least once a week and expand cooking repertoire

2014 not resolutions: bessie

As is tradition around these parts, I force the family to compile a list of 5 things they might like to think about maybe doing during the coming year. There is no pressure to Achieve these things (hence the not part) – it is purely and simply a list and a good indication in future times of where everyone’s head was at.

First, let’s review Bessie’s 2013 not-resolutions:

  1. Achieve an atar 80+
    NOT ACHIEVED – sadly no. Has forced some rethinking about the course for next year – though hopefully she can scrape in on the basis of her portfolio

  2. Be proud of my major works
    ACHIEVED! – both the coat and artwork were pretty Ace!

  3. Have a fulfilling year and take every opportunity as it is my last year at school
    ACHIEVED! – unlike her siblings (who were pretty indifferent) Bessie utterly adored school and was Very sad to leave

  4. Take more photos
    NOT ACHIEVED – not a whole lot of photography going on

  5. Be more social
    ACHIEVED – she’s always out and about at one thing or another

And up for 2014:

  1. Get a (part-time) job
  2. Enjoy my course
  3. Go to festivals and see bands
  4. Finish my quilt (flanelette, girly patchwork) and continuing making things and being crafty
  5. Travel