Merry Catmass

We went on a bit of a goose chase today hunting down non-existent plastic bags for a reorganisation of my thread filing system, but on the way home we stopped by our local pet supply store.

We love this store: it has a huge range, very friendly staff and assists local cat and dog rescue associations.

With a sale on, we decided that Christmas has come early for the cats.  They have fresh dry food, new collars, new identity tags, new squishy toys and two pieces of furniture.

One is a tall cat tree (with sisal for scratching and sleeping platforms at a range of heights) and the other is a play box for Abby.

Here is video I shot of Abby's first meeting of the play box.  It has two furry mice dangling from the ceiling inside the box.

Life Update

Just a small update for those who are interested :)

In the end I'm not moving for a few months.  I literally cannot find anything suitable cheaper than where we currently are and at least here, Stephen was still paying most of the bills.

Stephen is currently unemployed. His last contract ended last Friday.  There's nothing on the horizon for him here.  He is flying out to Singapore next Tuesday for a job interview and he has applications in for Melbourne.

I'm enjoying the technical side of my job but I still don't suffer fools gladly. This is something I need to work on :) At least I do most of my venting on Twitter instead of allowing it to show at work in front of the customers or colleagues.  Although there are a few colleagues who seem to think I'm a good listener and use my when they need to vent aloud or as a sounding board for ideas.  Ironically I'm pretty good at keeping team morale up.  I use the old adage "you can't be angry when you're laughing" to deal with most issues.

I was told yesterday "I can't believe you've been here such a short time Mel, the place just isn't the same without you"  which was nice.

I've also had meeting with management on going full time for three months next year to work on more special projects.  I've also got an expression of Interest in with Curtin University for 6-12 month contracts starting next Feb-Mar.  If I could pick up one of the 12 month contracts at my usual rate of pay (instead of the pittance I'm getting now) move to a cheaper place and then spend the 12 months clearing out all the extraneous guff I'm carrying about I should be perfectly set to afford to move back to Sydney or Melbourne when the contract runs out in early/mid 2011. The employment opportunities in Syd/Melb would have improved by then too.

On a personal front, I'm slowly starting to professionally network more and meet a few people outside of work or at least through work.  I'm starting to go to more conferences and professional events and chatting with other librarians.  Also through Janine's stitching group I'm starting to make some friends there so I'm not a social hermit :)

I'm going out to a property in the Perth Hills for Christmas lunch. Clara, a friend for work collects all the "orphans" at her place for lunch and she insists that there are some people coming who I will really get along with so some new friendships might come out of that.

Boxing Day is supposed to be hideously hot or hideously cold with massive storms, depending on which weather service you listen to.  If its the former I'm spending the day at the cinemas even if it means watching 4-5 movies back to back.  Thankfully there are lots on that I'm interesting in going to :)

The Monday public holiday I'm spending at Janine's shop with some of the other stitching girls. So that looks like fun :) And Tuesday I go back to work.  The library is only closed for the public holidays.

I have no plans for New Years Eve, but then I never have any plans for New Years Eve.  I'm not a big party girl so I'm always more than happy to spend that one at home with the cats :)

So I wont be alone on Christmas Day (this apparently is a big deal to some people) and I am getting out and about and I am deriving satisfaction from my work.

So all in all, I think the stage is set for a good 2010.  Not at all what I envisaged this time last year .... but well life is in the journey right?

Mel's Sunday Update

Wow a BIG update from me this time!

Presents Out
I have stitched two presents this year.  Both for friends who read my blog so I wont be putting up pictures until after the presents have been opened.

I took both pieces to the Grand Opening of the Colours Down Under bricks and mortar store yesterday and one was snapped up to put on the wall.  I had to apologise and snatch it back to post to my friend.  I think I might be stitching a second copy of that chart up. Pictures of the new store are here.

I have sent out a few non-stitched gifts and a few more Christmas cards to friends, so crossed fingers they all arrive in time.

Other stitching
On Halloween this year Tracy Horner of Inkcircles designs made available the chart, Four in the Bush.  As she suggested here I am stitching this with Carrie's Threads: Soot, Peach, Pina Colada, Dried Sage, and Garnet.

I'm using Carrie's silks! I'm loving these silks! They are the easiest threads I have ever stitched with! They glide through the fabric and no tangles or knots. These are the threads you have dreamed about !!!!  Anyway WIP pictures are here.

Presents In
I have received and opened my first Christmas present this year and by sheer coincidence it is from Tracy!  I purchased Reindeer Games: The Huddle and the Celtic Cat notecards from Tracy last month. When Parcel number 2 finally arrived (parcel number 1 is still lost somewhere) it contained all of these goodies:

• A Beautiful handmade card - stunning!
  
• A "Practice Safe Hex" badge {snicker} Will wear this to work!
  
• A beautiful red and silver heart fob (so beautiful!)
  
• The Inkcircles chart: Smell of Sulfur (my favourite)
• Some gorgeous Carries Threads in *my* sorts of colours: Epiphany, Jewel of the Nile, Wildfire, Thanksgiving, Green and Wild Orchid!
• Inkcircles chart: Mother Maya (which I am tempted to stitch in Wildfire!)
• Inkcircles chart Celtic Beasties: Christmas ... or Knot (one of my all-time favourite charts)
• Inkcircles chart Much Heralded Sampler (which includes all the medieval motifs I adore!)
• And finally some MEL chocolate (90% bitter) It must have been made for me LOL!

Thank you so much Tracy! This is completely unexpected and just like you to be so generous! Thank you so much my friend!

Picture of this treasure trove is here.


Wow lots of things happening. How's everyone else's last couple of weeks been?

Yes I had to include an obligatory photo of Abby!  Trubs was sensibly away from the sun in this near 100oF heat!  Multiply wont let me just upload a pic to a blog entry at the moment, so there's a series of five *action shots* added to Abby's folder.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

OK latest meme!

Stolen from a few friends in LiveJournal:

If I came with a warning label, what would it say?

(if you want to play along, post this on your own blog please so I can comment on you :)  If you trust me .... )

Christmas 2009

I purchased Reindeer Games: The Huddle and the Celtic Cat notecards from Tracy last month. When Parcel number 2 finally arrived (parcel number 1 is still lost somehwere) it contained all of these goodies!

A Beautiful handmade card, A "Practice Safe Hex" badge
A beautiful red and silver heart fob
The Inkcircles chart: Smell of Sulfur
Some gorgeous Carries Threads in *my* sorts of colours: Epiphany, Jewel of the Nile, Wildfire, Thanksgiving, Green and Wild Orchid!
Inkcircles chart: Mother Maya (which I am tempted to stitch in Wildfire!)
Inkcircles Celtic Beasties: Christmas ... or Knot (one of my all-time favourite charts)
Inkcircles Much Heralded Sampler (which includes all the medieval motifs I adore!)
And finally some MEL chocolate (90% bitter) I can't wait to try it!!!!

Thank you so much Tracy! This is completely unexpected and just like you to be so generous! Thank you so much my friend!

Presents cards etc that are stitching related or from stitching friends for Christmas 2009.

Colours Down Under Grand Opening

Janine standing in front of her store.

Saturday 12 December 2009

Colours Down Under opened a bricks and mortar shop. No-one besides Janine and Marilyn would be in the photos! Onver a dozen people in the shop, hiding behind me as took each picture!

http://www.coloursdownunder.com.au/shop/

There is still little bits of refining to do - but the shop looks excellent! Very welcoming and I could sit in there all day and fondle threads and stitch!

Janine's Blog tell more: http://coloursdownunder.blogspot.com/2009/12/here-tis.html

Four in the Bush

Four in the Bush
Inkcircles Designs

Inkcircles Halloween freebie chart. Found here: http://inkcircles.blogspot.com/2009/10/four-in-bush.html

Stitched with Carries silks: Soot, Peach, Pina Colada, Dried Sage, and Garnet.

As suggested here: http://inkcircles.blogspot.com/2009/11/mel-flashes-her-bloomers-in-public.html