Fantastic. That's all I wanted to say. Actually, perhaps it is time for a poll... it has been so long.
When we go to Brisbane in 11 sleeps (yay!), and I take my laptop so as to run my important and busy life whilst I'm away (ahem) - how do I do it?
I've got the built in wifi, but haven't experimented with it beyond my house. If I can find a wireless hotspot or whatever they're called, how do I connect?
And does my mail still arrive in my mail box?
I know it is terribly obvious to you clever people, but to me it is just bamboozling.
For Aucklanders. Typical.
Soul Bar at the Viaduct has free champagne for the lay-dees. If I were there I would totally check it out. Read the details at Spare Room. Sounds too good to be true, but isn't.
And if any property developers feel like doing it here, go for it. In fact, just buy me a fridge full.
Post where I tell you stuff that doesn't matter or mean anything.
a. I was the one who approached the Maori Party offering them lots of ping to support Labour. They're doing a nice job of covering it up with lots of "he"s and "overseas", but really, I don't mind you knowing that I'm filthy rich and have oodles of money to give away.
b. A very exciting shipment of fabric has arrived from the US of A. I've made some into bags, and it was very fun. I should probably try making stuff to sell though, rather than a million nice shopping bags for myself to get rid of the green Woolies ones (can't be publicly in support of Progressive you know).
c. It is dinner time, and I should be cooking something with the delivery of veges we got from Commonsense, that cost a bazillion dollars for 3 carrots and a banana. Good thing I'm so very wealthy.
d. The lunatics have taken over the asylum, and I need to go before they pull the dining table onto themselves. Turns out a 2 year old and a 4 year old are a DYNAMITE combination. Hence lack of coherent thought and brilliant writing. Or even basic vacuuming.
Bond and Bond are refunding us the ping for the camera. Without much grace, I must say. At least they're doing the right thing. Hopefully the stinky salesman gets in lots of trouble.
The more I shop, the more I realise the internet is the place to do it.
Uncanny resemblance.
International readers note, the first is star of the small screen in New Zealand. That is what we look like here.
I always thought Brisbane sounds a bit like Brian, or Gordon. One of those kind of names.
Anyhow, we're going there in 3 weeks for a holiday. yipppppppeeee.
Well, a story of deception and intrigue.
So. We took the dvd camcorder back, because it was a pain. Well, in fact we took 2 dvd camcorders back, because they were both pains.
I saw a good little mini-dv camcorder at Farmers (ie one with tapes) for $699, and Farmers had 15% off yesterday, so that takes it down to about $595. Yay! Then Glen thought he'd see how much they are at Bond and Bond, they are $799. Bond and Bond have a deal where they'll better the price of competitors by 20% of the difference, which usually is a laughably small amount. In this instance however the difference is over $200, so it would mean an extra $40 off.
Glen checked they'd match the Farmers sale price, and they said yes. Until they found out the Farmers price was originally $699. Then the story changed. They'd match the difference for the original price, but not with the 15% off (you keeping up?).
The sign outside said *see conditions instore. So we asked to see the conditions. They didn't have them. They said that the deal doesn't apply to specials (wtf)? They said we'd have to call head office, but they didn't have the number.
It is a wonder that they knew bloody anything.
I've emailed Bond and Bond, and got a list of the conditions. Of course there is nothing about not matching sale prices.
Farking eejits.
Where to next?
I wouldn't mind if it was a condition, but it isn't, and they lied to us to save $20. They shouldn't have these promotions if they're not prepared to occasionally pay it. It is just a stinky lying promotion where the shop staff think they can make up the rules themselves.
Grrr.
Sometimes shopping isn't as easy as it looks.
I thought rather than going for quality, I'd hit the quantity button. Three posts at a time. Nicey nice.
There was a flurry of helicopter activity over Petone late last night. They had spotlights out and were whizzing around like in the movies.
And now I can't see anything about them anywhere. Anyone know? Another car commercial, or a psychopath on the loose?
There was a flurry of helicopter activity over Petone late last night. They had spotlights out and were whizzing around like in the movies.
And now I can't see anything about them anywhere. Anyone know? Another car commercial, or a psychopath on the loose?
There was a flurry of helicopter activity over Petone late last night. They had spotlights out and were whizzing around like in the movies.
And now I can't see anything about them anywhere. Anyone know? Another car commercial, or a psychopath on the loose?
What is with Bridget Saunders and Bill Crowe? Is he the only person she knows outside of Parliament in Wellington?
Gah. Every Thursday I read her column and it makes me grumpy. I hate stupid innuendo and speculation, and I guarantee most of it is made up to fill inches. Who would ever know if there is any basis in fact.
"Which Blue MP enjoys the company of young men".... ooooh. Yawn.
If a town doesn't have real celebrities (and hello, politicians and Peter Jackson don't count), then there is no need for a gossip column.
The main reason I set up my website was because I got an email from a reporter from our main daily paper, saying she would like to feature my products. The excitement! I resisted shouting it to the world, because, you know, it would be a nice surprise. And I didn't want to jinx it. The reporter said she loved my stuff and would like to buy some, and would I consider giving some of my shirts to her for some goodie bags she was making up for the hospital.
Of course I said yes. I'd like to pretend it is because of my philanthropic nature, but lets be honest, I knew that if she was asking for something, saying "no" wasn't going to help me get into the paper.
And then I waited. And waited. And talked to some people who were also waiting. And emailed the reporter. And waited.
Now word on the street is that my friendly reporter has been stood down for lack of communication, and not returning stock. These rumours haven't been substantiated by anyone official yet, so we'll see.
So, we got the Sony, and it is fine and does the trick. However, complaint no. 1. You can't just plug it into the computer and download the movie. You have to put the disc into the computer. This would seem okay, but in my experience the dvd drive is less reliable than the usb port. Also, the camcorder goes on about how you can shoot and then put your dvd straight into your dvd player. Slighty techie boring bit to follow. To edit the dvd on the player, you have to record in VR mode. Dvd players don't like VR mode, and don't play it. Some might, but our quite good dvd player won't, and our neighbour's very good dvd player won't. So, if you want to edit your movie you have to download it to your computer. This takes ages, and as far as I'm concerned you may as well be using a tape.
I think our next step will be to swap our Sony camcorder for a tape one. The shop will really be loving us. Any recommendations are warmly encouraged.
I really thought getting a dvd camcorder would be the simple option. How wrong I was.
It was summer today, fer sure. Several times I stripped down to my t shirt.
Awesome, finally global warming is doing the right thing, and has got rid of our crappy spring.
And whose idea was it to have big wide gates from the playground at Waitangi park onto the two roads beside it? Big, tempting, wide gates. A mother could die from nerves in a situation like that, or get cranky and drag the kids home where there are nice big gates EVERYWHERE.
I was at gym this morning, and Bon Jovi came on the big screen. This made a pleasant change from the Black Eyed Peas (bleurghhghghgh, since the Fergie peeing incident...). And Jon Bon Jovi was horrible with that hair. Honestly, I couldn't see past it. A big bouffy perm on a fella just ain't hot. But then he cut the hair, and it turns out he is very beautiful.
So I'm wondering, who is secretly goodlooking?
I think Paris Hilton is secretly goodlooking, but it is hard to see past the excessive skankiness. There must also be some secretly goodlooking politicians - surely. What about Maharey?
And conversely, there must be some secret shockers. People who are photoshopped and nipped and tucked beyond actually knowing what the hell they look like. Posh springs to mind.
Malo is 2 today. Farewell babyhood! Hello terrordom!
We thought it time to get a video camera, after months or thinking about it. We bought a cute little Canon dvd camcorder thing. Warning. Don't buy a frickin Canon dvd camcorder, no matter how cute and how reasonably priced. After downloading the software it came with, and puzzling over its lack of workingness, we discovered in the manual that it won't work until registered online. However this presented a problem as we didn't have the cd key. Then on another piece of yellow paper in the box we discovered that we actually needed to download an update off the website - so we did that. The 622mb download took a while, but we figured it was worth it, or we'd never be able to play anything we recorded (turns out Canon doesn't work with any other software than its own). Long story long. Didn't work. Nor did the dvds play in our dvd player as it promised in the box
So the camcorder is wending its merry way back to the store as I write, and as I uninstall the 1.5gb of software installed so far. Fingers crossed Sony will do better.
The box said random and easy. It was certainly random. Bastards.
Stephen has been getting up to mischief. He has dissed a crap product on his blog, and now been served papers to remove the offending post. Maybe I'll be served papers for calling it a crap product. If they send me a private detective he'd better call me a dame.
So, discuss amongst yourself what this means. Can we diss crap products? And as for the science of it, well, I know what Glen will be discussing around the morning tea table at work today...
I have taken the plunge and paid for some advertising. I figured that people weren't receiving my messages to shop at babylicious by osmosis, although bloggers seem to be very receptive to my repeated hints, and rate as my number one customers.
So as soon as the frickin dumbarse system decides to work you'll find me at www.kidspot.co.nz. Fingers crossed it will generate piles of traffic (since they seem to buy all the google top spots).
I've finally admitted to Glen that I had affairs with Doug Howlett and Sam Hunt.
And then I told the boys.
We went to a quiz night last night. Our team comprised of myself, Glen, my sister, two young Japanese boys and a lovely Japanese woman who is staying with my parents. Our team was called Turning Japanese. We decided to save our Joker card for the food and drink round, figuring it was our best hope. The quizmaster looked at our team as he read the first question, and said "this should be no problem for the Turning Japanese team - how is Sake commonly drunk? Cold, warm or hot". He couldn't have asked a more difficult question. Loads of debate (although we all agreed), but how to answer? It is served hot and cold, depending on style of sake, season etc. But we knew that the answer was unlikely going to cover both bases. We conferred with our neighbours (all former Japan residents also) and the quizmaster.
And wrote warm. And we got it. But it is wrong.
In fact, in Japan they have a song which goes (in Japanese obviously) "Don't Drink Warm Sake".
I've just been in the backyard painting a table. It is for kindy, and has been waiting for me to paint it for approximately 17 years, but due to bad weather it hasn't been finished. I thought I'd crank up some music, but the only thing in the stereo in the sleepout is a Glen Campbell cassette (cassette!), left over from when we owned a bach, and had a bar there, and played music like Glen Campbell, and drank much, and it was all great and ironic and great.
And now I'm inside, and the neighbours are having to listen to Glen Campbell. Ha ha ha.
This is the everyday housewife getting her own back on the world.
And now I'll scuttle back outside and put something hip on, so they don't think I'm a complete eejit. Perhaps some Patsy Rigger will do the trick.
I don't seem to have any time anymore. This is by way of an apology for having nothing to say either.
Next week I anticipate having some time on Thursday morning, so perhaps I'll have something to say then.
Over and out.
I went into the city today expecting some kind of dire third world carnage. People would be eating cold pies, and shivering after their cold showers. I had heard that it was quiet in town, so anticipated a clear run through.
As it happens, the gas stoppage has had no discernable effect to the passing motorist. People were putting on a brave face, driving their cars and eating at the cafes.
Actually, to be perfectly honest, I was surprised to see so many road blockages where there was work underway on the pipes. And on Thorndon Quay we saw real live flames. Finn looked very concerned and asked if they needed help putting them out. I told him they were burning the pipes to get rid of the water. It will be a bugger when he gets older and stops believing my made up explanations.
And in case you thought I might be able to write something that doesn't mention shirts. Well, I can't. If you're in Auckland and in the vicinity of Sylvia Park or Newmarket, please check out the window in The Homestore. Apparently as of tomorrow it will be very babylicious.
Since the croc hunter died yesterday have you found yourself saying "crikey" a lot?
I have said it at least 400 times since his demise.
Strange things are afoot at the Circle K.
I'm not very tall. And when I get an email from Elmo Levy telling me about this fantastic growth hormone product, what choice have I but to read the fascinating data?
Except I'm confused. The letter is really from Lemuel Fulton.
Enough already! I wouldn't buy their product anyway, but the names they come up with - Elmo, Lemuel, and from my junk folder...Zina, Lucia and Ophelia.
Actually, on second thoughts, perhaps I'd just like to party with this gang. I suspect a Martha or a Wanda would fit right in.
This blog has turned into a shirt blog. I eat them, sleep them and primarily make them. The Man Pants were a welcome diversion, but they're all gone now. There are a lot of wetas on blokes backsides at the moment.
I'm going to miss the first book club meeting tonight so I can iron 144 shirts. There should be some relief tomorrow once they're all sent off.
I'm completely loving it. It is great to have something fun to do, that could potentially earn me some ping. At the moment all monies are spent on (you guessed it) shirts, but we've also had to get a printer, guillotine, eyelet punch... and all manner of scintillating purchases.
I haven't had a martini for a week. Now that is dedication for you.
Our house isn't worth millions of dollars. Big of a bugger, but nevermind.
I'll just have to get back to printing the 144 (gasp!) shirts that a shop has ordered.
And work out how to do a packing slip (I'm trying very hard to look professional).
