... And Two Months Later

Here I am. Did you miss me? No? Your loss, I suppose.

So, I did get the new parts for my computer - I can run every game I have on ultra high now *Drools*

Didn't finish the poetry unit, which has sapped all remaining motivation to complete this course ... so I haven't even started with the next unit.

Tomorrow, after my hair cut appointment, I am going to go to the op shop just down the road to volunteer ... so that I have some sort of work to stick on my resume ... then after a month I'll try to get some employment.

I've been thinking about contacting an old friend and seeing if they want to go to the pub to reminisce about the past, etc. and bitch about our mutual ex (several years apart). Ugh, requires using the phone though ... maybe I can arrange it all via text? I hate phones! Infernal machines of panic inducement!

What ever I do, I MUST GET OUT OF THIS HOUSE!!!

PsychoScissors out.

Late ... Whatever.

So, I had a look in the settings for Dragon Age: Inquisition and found it could be run in window mode, so I ran it while I also had task manager up so I could monitor the memory usage. I found out that windows had shaped my 8GB of RAM to 2GB, which I promptly rectified. I also found during loading it would cause the CPU and Disk Usage to spike to 100%. My computer DOES actually meet ALL recommended requirements to run this game, so I ask myself WTF? I figure the CPU spike is more caused by the fact that it is an APU, which means it is also the Graphics card, and since this game is both graphic and CPU intensive ... well, it's clearly too much for it to handle. I find that when the Disk usage spikes to 100%, it's usually when some background system operation goes rogue ... so maybe a second hard drive would do the trick?

Anyway, I managed to get Inquisition to run satisfactorily for the moment, but I am thinking of purchasing, as well as a new graphics card, a second stick of RAM and a second hard drive - neither of these things are particularly expensive, especially compared to a new graphics card.

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I don't know if I will be able to finish the poetry unit I am doing for the writing course - I have tried, but I can't seem to write anything to the rule set for certain types of poems. Three weeks left, which is supposed to be used for peer review and redrafting, and I can't write a thing! Ugh, this blows! What of the ones I have written? Well, they have been critiqued by some poetry expert and I can't figure out how to rewrite them!

Maybe I should just can the whole thing. It's pointless anyway, I have no plans for using the certificate for anything. But I have already payed for the bloody thing ... twice over .... must finish ... blegh.

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So, school holidays start next week. The Chook will be at his father's for the first week. I had planned on relaxing some and catching up on things I had let slide for the last few months as I stared at the screen, attempting to write poetry. Now it's shaping up to be more sitting in front of a screen while attempting to write poetry.

My motivation for doing almost anything has gone, this isn't cool. I crave sleep, but my head won't let me - unless it's a half hour nap on the floor of the lounge - maybe I could write a poem about that? LOL (not really that funny, now that I think about it).

Pfft, whatever.

PsychoScissors out.

Books are awesome, but I like playing games too, so ...

I have decide to lay off purchasing new books for a while. As much as I love them, I really need to start saving up for a new graphics card for my computer. What I currently have had done an admirable job until a couple of days ago - I finally purchased Dragon Age: Inquisition. I have to run the game on low settings for it not to be jumpy, not cool. If I'm going to buy a new graphics card I don't want to skimp too much, I want it to be able to run new games for the next few years at least! They aren't cheap either ...

I drew a new title for this blog a couple of weeks ago. I really should get around to scanning it in so that I can put it up already!

I have tried Cadbury's new Vegemite flavored chocolate. While I wouldn't go so far as to say it is disgusting, I do think it tastes 'wrong'. I love Vegemite and chocolate, but they really don't taste right together.

Can't think of anything else at the point in time.

PsychoScissors out.

I'm late! I'm late for a very ¿important? date ...

So, two days late is still better than never, right? I was supposed to do a post on Friday so I could wish everyone a happy World Goth Day! I even brought some of my old goth gear out of retirement for the occasion ... I received multitudes of stares (more than the usual amount just for my purple hair), some of which were clearly disgusted! My town has quite a few prudes, obviously.

I haven't been doing a whole lot of crochet recently ... I've mostly been playing with altered card art ... but I have completed one small project:

Meet Murray!

Isn't he adorable? The original pattern Skull Pincushion is by DIY Geekess, though I used buttons for eyes and crocheted the bottom closed. I have also crocheted a smaller one, called Murray Junior for my son - I'll post a pic once he has eyes.

This fortnight I have continued my book consumption. I partook in the last few hours of Book Depository's flash sale, gathering three new books - A Portrait of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde, How to Draw Cartoons and Caricatures by Mark Linley, and Wallace and Gromit's Grand Adventures.
The latter I have perused with The Chook, to great satisfaction! I adore Wallace and Gromit! How to Draw Cartoons and Caricatures isn't all that exciting, though I have only flicked through it so far.

I have also purchased five more books on Thursday, four from Bookworld, the fifth from Book Depository (once again). From Book Depository I purchased Making Handmade Books: 100+ Bindings, Structures and Forms by Alisa Golden. From Bookworld I purchased The Imaginary World of... by Keri Smith, Subversive Cross Stitch 50 Designs for Your Sassy Side by Julie Jackson, Snail Mail: Celebrating the Art of Handwritten Correspondence by Michelle Mackintosh, and The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution by Richard Dawkins.

It's crazy how quickly books from the UK (Book Depository) have been arriving! Usually when I order books from the UK it takes between two to three weeks to arrive - but the books I mentioned in my last post arrived in 9 working days, the books I mention in the second paragraph of this post took 6 working days - I wonder how long it will take for Making Handmade Books to arrive.

In my previous post I mentioned I was reading God is not Great By Christopher Hitchens. I enjoyed the read, though it was very different to Richard Dawkins The God Delusion. The God Delusion was about proving the claims for the existence of god(s) wrong, whereas God is not Great is about showing how belief in god(s) does not make people better or make the world a better place to live, but in fact makes it worse.

Well, enough about books ... how about movies? I purchased a few new movies, because Target has all Blu-rays half price. I picked up The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies (3D), X-Men: Days of Future Past (3D), and The Imitation Game.

I don't own the equipment for 3D movies, but I figured they come with a 2D version, so why not buy the 3D versions - since the half price deal made The Hobbit $2 more and X-Men 50 cents more than the 2D versions.

The only one of these movies I have thus far watched is The Imitation Game. It's the story of Alan Turing, the father of the computers. I had heard of him and this movie didn't present me with many facts that I was unaware of, but it was a compelling and emotional ride. Normally I don't go in for drama - I'm an Action Sci-Fi kind of girl - But it was a film about an important historical figure I really enjoyed learning about ... and having Benedict Cumberbatch playing the lead role didn't hurt! I highly recommend this film to everyone.

TL:DR - I love books and I have purchased lots recently. The film The Imitation Game is amazing!


PsychoScissors out.

Crazy hair is awesome!

The weekend after my last post I finally did something I had always wanted to do - I dyed my hair purple! The bleach didn't much like my hair ... I have always had trouble with hair dye not taking properly, turns out bleach is no different ... I ended up with patches of bright orange streaks, which caused the purple to give me brown-ish patches throughout. But in the end the brown-ish patched didn't matter, as I had most of my hair cut off! As is my way after years of growing my hair.

So, I now have hair that is super short and spiky in the back, graduating to long enough to tuck behind the ears in the front. It looks awesome! And purple! Yay!


Not a whole lot else has happened this last fortnight. I helped out with the Mother's Day stall at The Chooks school. I have a gas bill to pay ... Um, what else ...

Oh, yeah, received some books I had purchased online! The Guerilla Art Kit and Living Out Loud by Keri Smith, and God is not Great by Christopher Hitchens. The first arrived on Monday, the latter two only arrived this morning.

The Guerilla Art Kit was not as good as I had hoped. A lot of the ideas I had seen elsewhere, but it does collect them in one easy to access volume. It also provides recipes and how-to's for getting your guerilla art out there.

I have just started reading Living Out Loud - so far so good. not so much an instruction book as inspiration. AND IT HAS STICKERS!!!! Stickers make any book better (right?).

If God is not Great is even half as good as The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins, it will make for an excellent read - even if it is only "preaching" to the choir.

Well, I can't think of anything else, so ...

Until next time,

PsychoScissors out.

So...

On my whiteboard next to my calendar, for Wednesday I had written in that I would post to this blog. Completely forgot until I was getting into bed, thinking 'Oh, well, there is always tomorrow'. I didn't even think about it yesterday, but today I am here - better late than never?

I was having a read of some of my older posts and noticed that I had mentioned my Doctor Who scarf. Completing the scarf is one of my bucket list items! I am nearly halfway through making it. In the older post I mentioned not knowing if I would use single or half-double crochet and if I would make it 8" or 12" wide ... I decided to make it the wide version (it ended up 11.5", close enough) in half-double crochet. To figure out if I could do it without using up all of the hand dyed yellow I crocheted 10 rows and weighed it, divided the weight by 10 to get the weight per row, calculated how many rows I would need to complete the yellow stripes, then multiplied row count by row weight ... LOL. I had plenty!

Speaking of BBC ... I am now obsessed with Sherlock! After avoiding watching it for so long because I knew I would become addicted (just like a few other TV shows I am avoiding ... I have enough obsessions!) I finally borrowed the first season from a friend. As soon as I had finished watching the first episode I jumped online and ordered all three series! A few weeks later I had also purchased a Sherlock jacket and set of mugs from the UK ... I'm screwed!

I need to head off now, I'm helping out with tuck shop at The Chooks school.

PsychoScissors out.

P.S. I forgot about this lame poem I had to write for my poetry unit:

It was an exercise I had to do which required putting 100 words in a container, pulling them out and creating a poem.

Deplorable

You go further than a demiurge,

Amorphous plebeian.

Grand in your prideful ways,

Your intention notorious.

You're a meticulous juggernaut

Of compiled avarice.

Oh, tantalising travesty,

Graffiti with abandon!

You behave like a cloistered cat,

Bedevilled and deluded!

Betwixt the infidel and blade,

An apt finale.

Am I Back?

I have written a list of things I would like to do with my life, aka - a bucket list.

Some of the things on this list I can accomplish now or within the next year or two, some that will take most of the rest of my life to achieve and yet others that may never come to fruition - this does not bother me.
They range from the superfluous to serious life goals.
I have put some short to medium term goals in motion, but a few shall come to pass on their own; such as 'pay off my car loan' which - at the rate I am currently paying it off - should be the end of the year (I'll have it payed off 2 1/2 years early ... on a five year loan!).

One of the items I have on the list is 'maintain a blog with fortnightly posts'. So, here is the first of many - although I think I'll make the posts mid-week rather than on the weekends - I hope I can keep it up.

Perhaps in time I shall post my list on this blog, but for now I'd like to keep it private.

We shall see if my interest can be maintained,

PsychoScissors out.

Binge Watching

Last night I went on a binge of an anime I purchased earlier in the day.

I headed to another town yesterday (to JB Hi-Fi) to go and buy two Wii U games (they were each $20 less than anywhere elsewhere) for The Chook's birthday, which is coming up in a few weeks. I couldn't help myself from browsing the shops other wares.

I came to the anime section and went on a hunt for a certain Studio Ghibli film, though while they had many, the one I was after was missing. So, I started looking for other anime that I knew ... and found one that had been airing on TV recently, which (while I had missed the first few episodes) I had coincidentally become rather fond of. I couldn't help myself, I purchased it and in the evening began watching it ... which then became early morning - I had watched all 26 episodes! Oops. I guess I miss watching anime.

FYI, the anime I speak of is Ouran High School Host Club. I can hear laughter ...

I also picked up three children's films (buy 2 get the third free) - Despicable Me 1 + 2 and Rise of the Guardians. I also purchased Tim Minchin and the Heritage Orchestra - Live at the Royal Albert Hall ... I love Tim Minchin's songs! I spent WAY too much money, but it was nearly worse - so I did control myself to a degree - that counts, right?


Speaking of watching TV, the Doctor Who box set came in the mail 2 days after the last post. I had also gone to a local store and purchased the 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition (even if the 'Australia tax' is insane). Oddly enough I have yet to watch more than the first episode - I had put it on to make sure it would work and couldn't help but watch at least one episode! So, I guess I'll be binge watching Doctor Who now ... but I also have NCIS season 11 awaiting my attention too!

Oh, boy. For someone who doesn't watch an awful lot of TV, I'm certainly watching an awful lot of TV! *Help Me!*

I think I shall go now,

PsychoScissors out. 

Been A While ...

Not much has happened in the interim. Just the usual - take Chook to school, study some, pick up Chook.

I did recently purchase the Blu-Ray Box Set of Doctor Who Complete Series 1-7 from the UK BBCShop and I am waiting for it to arrive, rather anxiously. I'm starting to worry it might get lost or stolen or be delivered to the wrong house ... but it really hasn't been long enough for it to arrive yet. It has been 9 business days since it was dispatched, I just need to be patient.

On the topic of Blu-Ray, I actually had to go out and buy a Blu-Ray Player ... JUST so I could watch the aforementioned Doctor Who box set. I have even cracked the region restriction, just in case they come as Region 2 only - though according to an email explaining why I could not purchase the 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition from them, they don't sell Region 2 only items to Australians (This is only one of the reasons given in the cut and paste email, the real reason is licensing).

Thinking of parcels apparently summons a delivery person. Just received a parcel with the last ball of yarn I need to start a Doctor Who themed crochet project. I have decide to make my own 4th Doctor scarf! Not some small imitation, a full length (nearly 6 metres) scarf - although I am still tossing up whether I will make it the full width (30cm/12") or a skinnier version (20cm/8"), and whether I will make it in single or half-double crochet. The 'pattern' I am using is for an 8" wide by 15' to 18' long scarf, made in single crochet. I have enough yarn for this version, but getting more yarn isn't hard - it doesn't need to be the same dye lot, as the new yarn wont be worked next to the old. The only issue would be the mustard colour, as I will be hand dying it (couldn't get the right colour from the yarn company). But if I make the scarf to the pattern I will only need a quarter of the ball, so that shouldn't be a problem. I'm sure I'll figure it out.

I can hear the school regional athletics final from here. The school next door is hosting it and I can hear it clearly ... they must be blasting the kids ears out! Their PA is nowhere near my house.

Better do some study now.

PsychoScissors out.

This is why my blogs don't last ...

After the 'honeymoon' period of making an okay amount of posts, they eventually drop to nil. What can I say? Keeping a blog is very low on my priority list.

It's that time of the year again where the 'winter blues' are kicking in. I now know this is true. After several years of this happening at the same time of the year, it becomes obvious.

I'm regressing into a teenager.

End.
PsychoScissors

New Computer and Catch-up

Well, I ended up buying parts for a new computer. I did some research and found a suitable build for the price I was willing to pay. It took a while to get to me though, the company I purchased from was having a supplier issue. I was very happy when it finally came and it is working well.

Windows 8 is annoying, but I'll get use to it. I have uninstalled several of the apps that came with it, I don't need it sucking up my internet allowance. The app store has been disabled and unpinned too. I also find the menu annoying - I just type in the name of what I'm looking for instead.

Playing games on this thing is a dream, it doesn't have all the best stuff in it, but it is far superior to what I had. Serious gamers would probably laugh at me having an APU instead of separate CPU and GPU, but it was cheaper this way and I have the option to upgrade in the future if I wish. I just need to make sure I don't go crazy with gaming again, I'm usually pretty good - I go months without games usually and when I do play, I usually only play for a couple of hours - but sometimes the old gamer comes out and I spend days, weeks even, just playing computer games. Not cool.

A couple of weeks ago I had a nasty fever and the Chook was home sick too. We both spent several days at home doing sweet stuff all and feeling sorry for ourselves. I then had to work hard to catch up on missed study time ... and I didn't make it on time.

I got most of my work done, then I had printer issues - it didn't like my netbook, at the time I didn't have my new computer. So I ended up handing in almost all of my work two days before it was due. I finished two more assignments on the due date. When I went to hand them in I tried asking for an extension, but the secretary didn't know how to do it and the coordinator (who I knew DID know how) was busy on the phone. The only assignment I had not handed in was writing 3 short fiction pieces. I only needed two extra days so I hoped that a late assignment wouldn't matter too much, considering it IS done via flexible learning.

Well, that's me all caught up.

PsychoScissors out.

Edit: P.S. Forgot to say that someone replied to the letter to the editor in my previous post. He pointed out that secular religion is an oxymoron and said that we need our constitution to be reformed to allow freedom of or from religion.

Letters to the Editor

So, I had to submit a piece of writing to a newspaper/magazine/publisher for my writing course and one of the options was to send a letter to the editor.

It was published and someone had written a letter to the editor in reply. Here they are (Sorry mine is a little wonky):

So ... apparently my line of reasoning is hard to follow and secularism is a religion ...

My first thought after reading it - "You, sir, are an idiot."

I won't be dignifying this with a response, you can't fix stupid or the blindly religious.

PsychoScissors out.

Fair thee well XP, we had a good run...

Ok, so some of you may know that Microsoft's support was removed for Windows XP recently. Well, I was happy enough to continue to use it, removal of support does not mean you can't use it. Unfortunately, I had a glitch today and I was unable to fix it - I used my phone to browse the internet (since this was one of the services effected) and was unable to find a solution. I tried a repair install to no avail. So I did a complete wipe and re-install. This would have been fine, since they have supposedly made it so that when you go to activate it doesn't need to authenticate, but it doesn't recognise the internet connection through my mobile internet dongle ... I've had this problem before, I fixed it by lugging my computer to my parents house.

But now that I have this problem, I thought that maybe I should just upgrade my OS - I don't want to go down the linux path - so that leaves Windows 7 or 8, which are the same price. Then I got to thinking, that would probably be wasted money on my computer. My machine is aged to the point that if the motherboard, CPU or video card failed, I could not find replacement parts. I have new RAM and power supply, but the RAM would be incompatible with a new system. So for a new system I would have to replace, at the minimum, CPU, motherboard, video card and RAM.

While I know how to build a system, I do not have the time or patience to slog through all the info about all available parts and to figure out what I want vs. what I can afford. Pre-built systems are not what I'm after either, because they come with the things I don't need - adding to the cost. I don't need a DVD burner, case or hard drive - I have these things already, in perfect working order and compatible with future systems.

Ugh, I'll have to grab out my netbook to do my course work, until I can figure out what to do about my desktop. I just hope the operating system on it doesn't crap itself too - it runs XP as well! I'm pretty sure I have Open Office on it. Luckily I was able to put all of my recent work on to my external hard drive!

*Sigh*

PsychoScissors out.

Window Replacement

Today, one of my windows is being replaced ... exciting right? It was broken on Friday, when the lawn maintenance blokes were, well, mowing. A rock went through one of the windows (duh), I heard the rock, but assumed it was just lots of tiny stones hitting the wall and glass, as usual. It wasn't until Saturday morning that I noticed the glass on the floor and the rock beneath the curtain, it wasn't completely smashed - more like a large bullet hole. I told my parents (I am lucky enough to be renting a unit from them) and on Monday morning they contacted Body Corporate.

The Body Corporate decided to contact their resident representative to have a look ... this happens to be my neighbor. I found him waiting for me when I arrived home from picking up The Chook. He said "It would have been nice to have known about it when it happened." Thing is, I didn't notice till the Saturday and Body Corporate management is not available on the weekend, so Monday was the first opportunity to contact them. He also said "It's odd that the mowing guy didn't notice." To which I replied, "He was wearing earmuffs and operating a loud machine. How would he notice a smallish hole in a window slightly screened by a rose bush?" He also decided to ask where a stone would have come from ... you would think it was his money on the line.

My parents have now told me that if he comes up to me with questions that are for the owners, to refer him over to them - I am the renter. I do not speak for the owners, even if they are my parents.

End rant,

PsychoScissors out.

Mumble mumble....

Every Monday morning the kids at The Chook's school sing the National Anthem with the teachers and parents joining in. I usually stay out of singing it because I can't stand singing it so badly, but today it was worse than usual. There were fewer kids and all of them were mumbling - "Ausmnsal et us-eoice, fo-e a un n-fee...", I couldn't help myself, I said "Oh, come on" and started singing it, with the aim of getting them to lift their voices ... It back fire and I practically ended up singing it alone. Couple that with the fact that I can't stand being centre of attention, good or bad ... let's just say I didn't have much fun.

I also hate the fact that so few know that there is actually a second verse to our anthem. I think it is much better than the first verse too, far more uplifting.

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We'll join with hearts and hands
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands
For those who've come across the seas
We've boundless plans to share
With courage let us all combine
To advance Australia fair
In joyful strains, then let us sing
Advance Australia fair

Oh, but no one cares. No one likes singing our anthem, probably because we are forced to sing it for years in primary school. And then there are those who think that Waltzing Matilda would make a better anthem ... yes, let's sing about hard times, taking sheep and committing suicide when the corrupt law enforcement comes. Really good anthem right there! I will agree that it is far more fun to sing, but doesn't say much about out country ... just be glad we don't sing Advance Australia Fair in it's original form - look it up if you want to learn more.

Wow, did I really just have a rant about our anthem? How many people actually care so much? ROFL.

PsychoScissors out.

Feeling Cold...

It's windy and overcast outside. I am here wrapped in a blanket and still my extremities are purple. I am considering turning on the heater. It's always cold in my house - my house is oriented towards the east, only my kitchen window faces north and the western side of my house is in constant shade from the trees on the neighboring property. Only on 40+ degree days does it get uncomfortably warm in here. So cold.

Ok, the heater is on. I only ever heat the lounge room, both entrances have doors on them. I have just looked at the weather - apparently the maximum temperature is 15 degrees, tomorrow is supposed to be 14. Definitely cold enough for heating in my opinion. Must remember to put flannelet sheets on the beds!

And I still have not planted out my winter veg! Soon it will be too late for most. The seedlings are still waiting for transplant, like so many other things waiting for my attention. Every list sees exponential growth daily.


We are going without TV and video games here. The Chook has been ignoring my warnings about the consequences of not tidying his toys away, even taking anything that he doesn't put away by the end of the week has not worked. He was warned that he would loose all of his toys and gaming privileges if he didn't get it done this week and he didn't do a thing. So now he has no toys, no TV, and definitely no video games. He is left with his drawing things and books.

The only thing he has truly been unhappy about was the TV. I have turned all power to the TV etc off. I have even removed the external hard drive on the computer (which contains the files for all of the games) and the computer is to stay off at all times - except when I need to do my studying, which he is not home for.

I have told him the TV will go back on next week on Monday and that he will be allowed to choose a few toys from the confiscated mass to play with. If he can be good and tidy up when asked he will get some more toys and he may be allowed to play a video game for one evening. If he can continue to keep things tidy when asked he will get toys back, if not he looses some. Some might think this harsh, but nothing else has worked.

Well this is joyful...

PsychoScissors out.

Do they test this shit at all?!

I am trying to do one of the assessment tasks in my study material and it is asking me to make a mind map. Unfortunately, the information it asks for is really beyond the scope a mind map can reasonably cover. I have started over multiple times to try and incorporate all information requested, but it's imposable.

This is not the first time I have been faced with the maddening improbability of completing a task before me. I seriously doubt that content of this course has ever been tested. Also, the editing in many of the books has been nasty! So many spelling, grammar and syntax mistakes. Words missing! Pieces of text that don't belong! Were they not paying attention? Did they not think that someone doing a writing and editing course would not notice these, often simple, mistakes?

I am seriously PISSED OFF at the moment! But it's not just the improbability of completing tasks and poor editing of the study material that has me fired up - this entire course has been one massive mess! I won't go into detail about the other shit ... I've told enough people the rest of this madness.

The only thing that has gone right for me - ever - would be my son. Everything else has been hell. Is it any wonder to anyone that I have an insistent itch to destroy everything? Bah, who am I kidding? Who really cares? And who doesn't get the need to punch everyone in the face every now and then? Don't worry, I have never acted on that particular need - although I do occasionally indulge in destruction ... of my own property. Usually a journal or blog, and today I had a go at my current text book. Don't worry, it's still usable, just a little worse for wear.

Ok ... I'm starting to feel a little better, still pissed off, but calmer now. But hey, being angry is better than being comatose.

Well, I'm going to attempt to smooth out some of the wrinkles of the study text.

PsychoScissors

Back to School ... and other randoms.

So today the chook has gone back to school, which means I am back at my desk doing my utmost to study. A few days ago he said he was excited to go back to school and see his friends again, but yesterday he was whinging that he didn't want to go back because he didn't want to do work. Despite this he seemed very happy this morning.

His school has also changed it's start time, so I had fun this morning trying to remember that I needed to leave 15 minutes earlier. He couldn't find his little bow and arrow this morning. He really wanted to show everyone at school, so I helped him look, nearly making us late in the process.


Last week my washing machine ceased operating. The locking mechanism for the door chucked a hissy-fit - *click, click, click*, then silence. I went online and found that over the last year many others have had issues with this model, the biggest being circuit board failure and door lock failing/melting, and the manufacturer was not being very helpful. So, I was understandably freaking out.

I purchased it 2 years and 6 months ago, so 6 months out of manufacturers warranty. Joy. I knew that the laws had been changed to cover expected life of an appliance, a washing machine is expected to last 5 years before breakdown. Although I knew this, I also knew I would have difficulty dealing with them. At my mother's suggestion I went and spoke to the manager (possibly owner) of the store I purchased it from. He organised to have a repairman out and to wrangle the manufacturer for me! So now my machine works once again - and so it should! When you spend that sort of money on something it shouldn't fail so soon.


I have wanted to get/make a nice utility belt for everyday use for some time now, to use in place of a handbag. A few weeks ago I purchased one from Ishka. It is black suede and very utilitarian, so definitely something you could use everyday, but also looked nice. Unfortunately, I apparently do NOT have the hips for it and it is too stiff, so the pockets end up being useless too me and it sits awkwardly. At least I didn't pay full price.

I am now looking at making my own from fabric for flexibility. I have found many images of ones I like online, but most would not be very useful on a day to day basis or only go with a few outfits. I think I am going to have to design my own, but it will probably take me some time - my list of things to do grows exponentially everyday! Oh, well, another of my ideas assigned to the scrap heap.

That's all from me for now.
PsychoScissors out.

School Holidays and a Sick Little Chook

It is autumn school holidays and my 'Little Chook' (my son) has a nasty cold. He was so snotty yesterday that he had to hurl due to chunks in his throat - yummy! I am hoping he feels better soon, as I don't wish to take him anywhere to pass on his germs to the next unsuspecting child.

But even with this set back, we have both had a fair bit of fun staying in. You see, The Chook has made a list (with a little help from me, he's only a Prep) of things he would love to do during the holidays. While there are a few out-of-house things, such as ride bikes and go see The Lego Movie, a larger proportion are all crafty things and we have nearly all that we need here at home.

So far we have made a marble race track out of a pool noodle, pet rocks with houses, and a mini bow and arrow (using an icy pole stick, string and cotton buds). So far I think his favorite has been the pet rocks with houses. His pet rock's name is Bob. Bob likes mess and making lots of noise. My pet rock is called Lela, the complete opposite of Bob. She is neat and likes to read books in bed. Yes, we went a bit crazy.

I am having The Chook keep a scrapbook of all the things we do during the holidays to show his school friends when he goes back. He draws a picture of what we do, glues in photos and other keepsakes, and I write a short sentence describing the day.

Well, here's hoping our holidays only get better and that you (if you are having them) are enjoying yours!

PsychoScissors

Here it goes again...

So here I am again, starting yet another blog. Why? Because now I have to. The course that I am studying requires me to have a blog ... Hi Barry!

So please good people, bear with me (grrr...me bear), maybe this one will last.

To be completely honest, the reason I don't maintain a blog is because there are so many other things that need doing that keeping a blog constantly updated is low on my priority list. There are many other great blogs out there that have far more interesting things to say than I ever would want to make public knowledge.

Okay, so there you have it - my first post on THIS blog.

Enjoy (or not),
PsychoScissors