Going nuts
19/11/2006 09:01 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
izmeinaYesss. A week now back in Oz. A most peculiar time indeed - most of which was spent in a zombie state between jet lag, getting over a cold caught on the plane and the inevitable sense of sadness and confusion saying goodbye to all our friendseses. But the worst thing of all was the BIG BLACK HOLE. The sense of "Is that all?" in the aftermath of a long awaited for and much anticipated event. Now there's little left but memories and credit card statements. Based on the first one - seems likely that we will be not much more than 500 or 600 in the red. But in spite of topping up the card before leaving and in effect using it as a debit card, that did not stop them charging an outrageous 4 silver sickles for each ATM withdrawal. But still, it was cheaper and better than the primitive alternative of travelers cheques and evil exchange bureaux.
We guess that our first day back at work yesterday was the finally induction into reality. Lucky it was only 5-9 so a nice introduction to the Den of Dementors after 8 weeks absence.
Due to the broomstick being out of action, had to walk back to the Lair. Strange - it was going by the school - a street with lots of bushland - keeping the Izzie eyes peeled for especially pretty specimens of banksia nuts that sort of brought us back to the present. Amazing how in such a small little patch there are so many different varieties - even on the one tree. Banksia nuts are sort of the Oz version of pine nuts but infinitely more interesting. During flowering time they look like either very fat or long bright yellow or orange candles but eventually get all fluffy and hairy to reveal a brown cone beneath which can be tall, smooth and straight or short, fat and lumpy or various shades in between. The seeds are stored in the lumps which eventually open to let the critters loose.
Izzie's sister has several specimens in Amsterdam which are huge - almost elbow length. Most of ours are as big as hands. The larger varieties are often used by crafty folks to do wood turning.
Was peeking at the critters again today on the way back from work. Alongside one patch was a flock of pink galahs pecking on the ground in search of munchies.
Got back to the Lair and peeked around looking for the hole in the broomstick. Patched it up the other night but there must have been more than one hole as no amount of pumping would get the little bugger all puffed up and ready for the road. It was not that we did a bad patch up job but made the erroneous assumption that only one was needed. Then sat in the garden sipping a glass of red admiring the baby grapeses crawling all over the pergola and grevillea shrubs and contemplated what to do with the patch where all the beans had been.
It was Friday night when we got the inspiration that the bestest thing to do in order to get our mind of pointless reminsiscences or pity parties is something that we can do a little every day without too much effort or financial commitment is the gradual conversion of the Lair into a green oasis. Been a very slow and gradual process but there's no reason we cannot devote more time and resources to this project now that we've been inspired by so many real life examples in the last 8 weeks or so. If dull and dreary Emden can run half their town on wind and solar power, then the Lair should be able to generate enough solar juice to get Pluto on the grid.
Gardening can use time rather than money. Housy sorts of stuff like using putting in awnings outside to keep out the summer sun (and putting photovoltaic cells on them to make use of all that diverted unwanted heat) is a much more expensive business but if done properly could pay for itself over a 5-10 year time frame. Since we'd be using the equity of the house itself to do such stuff, it would not be gobbling up our house elf wages
So basically, reducing the need for external energy and income while looking pretty and quirky is the starting point for our evil green serpent strategy.
A patch of calendula and chamomile flowers is a good place to start. If the airport goblins want to snatch our green potions then we will simply solve the problem by making our own. (Weleda very kindly lists ALL the ingredients in many of their products and stuff like almond, macadamia or olive oil are easily obtainable along with the various essential oils and plant extracts)
We guess that our first day back at work yesterday was the finally induction into reality. Lucky it was only 5-9 so a nice introduction to the Den of Dementors after 8 weeks absence.
Due to the broomstick being out of action, had to walk back to the Lair. Strange - it was going by the school - a street with lots of bushland - keeping the Izzie eyes peeled for especially pretty specimens of banksia nuts that sort of brought us back to the present. Amazing how in such a small little patch there are so many different varieties - even on the one tree. Banksia nuts are sort of the Oz version of pine nuts but infinitely more interesting. During flowering time they look like either very fat or long bright yellow or orange candles but eventually get all fluffy and hairy to reveal a brown cone beneath which can be tall, smooth and straight or short, fat and lumpy or various shades in between. The seeds are stored in the lumps which eventually open to let the critters loose.
Izzie's sister has several specimens in Amsterdam which are huge - almost elbow length. Most of ours are as big as hands. The larger varieties are often used by crafty folks to do wood turning.
Was peeking at the critters again today on the way back from work. Alongside one patch was a flock of pink galahs pecking on the ground in search of munchies.
Got back to the Lair and peeked around looking for the hole in the broomstick. Patched it up the other night but there must have been more than one hole as no amount of pumping would get the little bugger all puffed up and ready for the road. It was not that we did a bad patch up job but made the erroneous assumption that only one was needed. Then sat in the garden sipping a glass of red admiring the baby grapeses crawling all over the pergola and grevillea shrubs and contemplated what to do with the patch where all the beans had been.
It was Friday night when we got the inspiration that the bestest thing to do in order to get our mind of pointless reminsiscences or pity parties is something that we can do a little every day without too much effort or financial commitment is the gradual conversion of the Lair into a green oasis. Been a very slow and gradual process but there's no reason we cannot devote more time and resources to this project now that we've been inspired by so many real life examples in the last 8 weeks or so. If dull and dreary Emden can run half their town on wind and solar power, then the Lair should be able to generate enough solar juice to get Pluto on the grid.
Gardening can use time rather than money. Housy sorts of stuff like using putting in awnings outside to keep out the summer sun (and putting photovoltaic cells on them to make use of all that diverted unwanted heat) is a much more expensive business but if done properly could pay for itself over a 5-10 year time frame. Since we'd be using the equity of the house itself to do such stuff, it would not be gobbling up our house elf wages
So basically, reducing the need for external energy and income while looking pretty and quirky is the starting point for our evil green serpent strategy.
A patch of calendula and chamomile flowers is a good place to start. If the airport goblins want to snatch our green potions then we will simply solve the problem by making our own. (Weleda very kindly lists ALL the ingredients in many of their products and stuff like almond, macadamia or olive oil are easily obtainable along with the various essential oils and plant extracts)
no subject
Date: 2006-11-19 11:12 am (UTC)Though I must admit I have started longing for my bed at home and just being able to cook for myself.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-19 11:29 am (UTC)Yesss. We discovered that while in places like England and Oz, you can almost use the infernal plastic to buy chips and a pie at the corner store, the more frugal business like sorts (the Dutch come to mind) allow their use only above a certain value as they figure that the costs to themselves for providing this infernal service are often in excess to the benefits they provide. So our original intention of putting just about everything on the card came to nothing and within a day or two was forced to resort to the dreaded cash withdrawals.
Amazed that people still use travellers cheques in this day and age.
Never got around to asking about your last post if Hong Kong was just as ickie and sticky as Kuala Lumpur. That weather is our idea of hell and certainly not a holiday.
Yesss. The thing that truly makes a holiday is the return ticket.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-19 11:36 am (UTC)Hong Kong is humid at this time of the year but not oppressively hot. The temps just in the low twenties, unlike here and Kuala Lumpur where it is like walking around in a sauna as soon as you leave the air conditioned comfort of the hotel.