Time flies...

How is it already 2025? 

It's been more than a hot minute since I last opened up a post and rambled. In the last... nearly 2 years!, I've had some ups and downs. Firstly, I had a few health issues that were finally diagnosed in 2023. No cures, but treatments and other dos and don'ts that help keep the worst of the symptoms at bay. Then at the beginning of 2024 I got a casual job. This was a big step in my life after so many years suffering from chronic pain. I've been working in the records departments (well, I am the records department), and it's been a real sharp learning curve, but I'm enjoying getting out of the house and earning some extra money.

On the reading front I have been diligently reading every day. While I dislike a lot about e-reading, it does a wonderful job of keeping track of my reading. I'm not terribly active on Goodreads anymore. I post my reviews (when I bother to write one), and just go with the flow on that front. Amazon is still my go-to bookstore of choice. Unfortunately there is still no bookshop in my nearby big town. It closed in 2015, and there has been nothing to take it's place. Big W has been steadily getting worse for books and book selections, so I'm left online shopping and, well, beggars can't be too choosy as books in Australia are still rather expensive.

Thankfully, being quasi-employed has meant that I now have a little bit more disposable income to treat myself to the occasional book haul. I've been rather enjoying my UF Cozies, or Cozy Mysteries in recent months. Am currently rereading the Chronicles of an Urban Druid series by Tempest & Anderle. I discovered this series during the pandemic, and it kept me sane during some of my loneliest points (well, this and other series). Love the characters, love that it is NOT set in the US - like a lot of other people I'm kinda mad about what's going on in the US at the moment, and what it means on a global scale. The series is longish, but not overly long, and if you want more they authors did a spin-off series that deals with the world after the big secret is out. 

 

On the home front, well, things are just as they were. The biggest change, after the job, was that my old Ford Focus (22yo) finally had to go. It was hard to find parts for the old girl, and a lot of them had to come from the wreckers as Ford no longer made new parts for a car of her vintage. Unfortunately, thanks to the pandemic, the used car market in my part of QLD was almost extortionate when it came to prices. When I worked at a newspaper in the mid 2000s a brand new Ford Focus was about $20k, and I was typing ads (worked in pre-press) for Suzuki Swifts and Nissan Micras that were $12-16k brand new! Now a used sedan with over 100k on the clock was getting over $20k! Ridiculous. So, we waited and waited. Finally we ended up getting a car where my aunt bought her car, and got a better deal than in a rural location which has minimal stock. Miss that old Ford though as the new car just isn't as powerful, nor is it as convenient. PS I do not like keyless entry. I like it when I can get in and out of a car without wondering if the battery will crap out that day!

 

 

Now for the fun bit... my fur-babies. I still have the four cats. I love them dearly, and I think they got me through the four years of COVID crap that had us quarantined for so long in the beginning of the pandemic. It was inconvenient, but closing the QLD border, and having a stay-at-home order was probably the best thing as it kept a lot of people safe. Then the borders opened up, people rushed up from NSW & VIC, and the number of COVID cases in QLD skyrocketed. Anyway, I digress. My cats kept me entertained when I couldn't see family for months on end, and they were a reason to get up and moving when I did feel down. Thankfully that happened rarely, but they were a source of comfort and companionship. My beautiful EvieNyxx is now classed as a senior cat. She has just turned 12. I got her at 12 weeks and 4 days from the RSPCA QLD, and she has been with me for just about every day since then. I may have left her for a total of 4-5 nights in the 12 years I've had her. She is my little shadow, and such a personality. The others are lovely in their own ways, but there is often an animal in your life that is just so special that they carve out a place in your heart, and I think that EvieNyxx is one of those.

Okaaaay... I think I've blabbed enough for now. Hopefully I can get myself back into the swing of things and start blogging, or making my little video updates, in the near future. I get the urge to film a review, or haul, or something book related all the time, but it's having the motivation to edit it, and upload it that is my sticking point. Finger's crossed that I can get a new computer in the next couple of weeks (this old girl is 10 now and getting rather sloooow), so it won't be such a tedious process.

 So on that note, thanks for popping in, and until I see you next time, 

Earl Grey Update

It’s been just over 6 weeks since I visited the local RSPCA shelter and came home with a new cat. Luckily, EG has been such a catalyst for settling the troubles between Evie Nyxx and Smokey. On his second night in the house he decided that he was not having anymore of this isolation sh*t, and he cried and kicked up such a fuss that I had to grab him late that night. He swanned into the bedroom with me, jumped up on the bed - much to the shock of Evie Nyxx and Smokey - and proceeded to snuggle down and purr up a storm. No one lashed out at him, and there were only a few grumbles and a small growl or two, and from that point on, EG was a member of the family.

Now, he gets into mischief with Phrynekinns, plays chase-me-Charlie through the house with the more recalcitrant Smokey, and has no fear about barging onto my lap, or chest, at night while I’m trying to cuddle Evie Nyxx.  He’s a delightful bundle of energy that has make a rather tense threesome into a calm and interactive foursome. Looks like this time, the fourth cat was the charm.

June TBR

Hello, my lovelies!

Well. This feels a bit strange. I haven’t ‘blogged’ in so long that this feels a little weird 😉

I’m running a little bit behind this month, but I thought I’d take a moment to put up my June TBR. After May was a complete disaster on the reading front, Audible has been a great way to ease back into picking up books. I caved and bought the Kindle editions of Swamp Sniper and Swamp Team 3 by Jana DeLeon. These are books 3 and 4 respectively, and I am having so much fun with this light-hearted series. Full of comedy, murder, mystery, and a dash of Southern charm, I would recommend this series to anyone, but if you love Stephanie Plum I think this will appeal to you.

So, with my urge to read kickstarted, I am hoping to get to a few of the books that I neglected in May. I need to catch up on my #aclassicamonth by reading The Picture of Dorian Gray (April), Persuasion (May), and June’s classic which has yet to be decided. On the Stephen King front, I’m hoping to read Different Seasons, or at least one or two of the novellas, plus perhaps dipping my toes into The Talisman. The Rook by Daniel O’Malley - which hid from me for about 6 weeks, don’t ask - is also on my radar because of the upcoming Stan series, and last, but by no means least, I really need to get started on The Count of Monte Cristo. That sucker is over 1,400 pages and I have yet to read one sentence (really wishing I had joined in last years readalong).

 

So, I have officially committed. It is here for everyone to see, and will hopefully motivate me to get threw all these books.  If I get the time to film and edit a TBR video I’ll link it above, and I have plans to film and upload a few videos this week, including a ‘Meet Earl Grey’ update.

Anyway, that’s all for the moment. I hope you’re having a lovely day, and until I see you next time,

So, this (almost) happened

Yep, I nearly brought home the most gorgeous Alaskan Malamute.

Sadly, she was more than I could handle at the moment (with my health issues), so I decided it wouldn't be fair to her to adopt her.  However, I did find out that if she isn't adopted, she will be going to live with someone from an Alaskan Malamute Rescue group that will rehome this gorgeous old girl.

Instead, I came home with a new cat... my fourth cat!

He's a little hyper at the moment, so I'm going to wait a few days for him to calm down before trying to photograph and get some footage of him.  All I can say is that he is a gorgeous black fluffy cat that has fit in so quickly with the other three.

Let me know if you'd like me to do a video on my cats below.  And until I see you guys next time,

 

New addition to the family

Last Saturday RSPCA QLD was having a $50 adoption weekend for all adult cats and dogs.  Great!  I have been interested in getting a dog for a while now, and living in the country I would just feel a little bit more secure with a dog in the yard.  So I went on Saturday morning, waited 10 minutes until they opened - with about 6 other people - and when the gates opened I was off to the dog section.  Saw some lovely animals (they only had 4 on display), and only one of those was a contender.  A beautiful, shy girl who had a slight malformation of the jaw (which didn't bother me as long as she was healthy) but unfortunately she was way too big for me to feed!  

So, discouraged, I swung past the cat cage as I was leaving - and you just know what happened next!

Yes, I found another furry friend to bring home.  Smokey was just so sweet and desperate to be patted.  If I went out of his sight he meowed, and when I opened his cage he almost jumped into my arms and snuggled his head under my chin.  The big mooch knew exactly what to do to worm his way into my affections.

  

I paid my $50 and brought him home only to face my next obstacles. . . Evie Nyxx and the Kinder.  How the hell was I going to introduce this smoochy man to two female adult cats (who have a tight bond!) without WWIII breaking out every few minutes?  Thank God I have a spare bedroom, because that is where he spent the majority of the first 4-5 days.  I'd sit with him for chunks of time, bring him out for limited cuddling on the couch, and also take him in for quick visits with the girls.  It's now day 7 and he is finally able to wander around the house all day without being snarled at.

Evie Nyxx and Kinder have been very good.  They are still a little hesitant of his place in the social hierarchy, but I expect that squabble to come over the next couple of days, perhaps weeks.  I'm keeping a close eye on things at the moment because when I got Smokey (perhaps a future name change to Shadow?) he was only just over 2.5kg and is quite a skinny and wobbly little man.  I think over the next few weeks he'll put on a few kg's (at least another 2) and I'll feel better about him being able to defend himself if needed.  At the moment the girls would totally flatten him.

As you can see, he has interesting colouring.  The papers say he's a Black Smoke Tabby.  I'd never heard of that so of course I Googled it.  Apparently it is not a common colouring, but when you see his marking, in person so to speak, they are quite subtle and it takes a while for your eyes to make out the stripes on his body.  Easier on his tail and legs, but when he's put on more weight, and the fur regrows on his front leg (shaved for his op - snip, snip!) I'll try to take some better photo's of him.  Like Kinder, he has a knack for moving his head right as I take the picture.  Frustrating, but feels pretty good when I finally get a picture of them sitting still enough to be in focus ;-D

With a new cat in the house I haven't had much time for reading.  I've picked up the new paperback of End of Watch by Stephen King, and have ordered a few more books that I found on special while perusing Book Depository.  Hopefully they will arrive by the end of next week.  Luckily the new boy is a huge smoochy snuggler so I can get some cuddles while I rug up on the couch to read this winter.  Unfortunately, so is Evie Nyxx.  If there is to be a battle, I think who sleeps on the bed, or couch, next to me might be it!

Will let you know how it goes.  And until next time,

 

Off to a great start

Last night's reading quandary... went with Copper Beach

After a blah reading month in December, I was surprised to find that January has been a huge reading months so far.  Although I've only read 4 new books, I have re-read 2 series to far!  Yes, I had a case of the I-must-read-that-again's, and devoured both the Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh, and the Arcane Society/Harmony series by Jayne Ann Krentz (Jayne Castle).

"This is how we blog from bed, blog from bed, blog from bed..."  using EvieNyxx as the keyboard holder

I have been aided in this reading frenzy since due to the fact that I've been laid up for a little while with a bad back, and achilles tendonitis.  Not good for everyday chores that need to be done - don't even start with the vacuuming or hanging out the washing! - but reading books by the handful has helped me pass the time and forget about all my aches and pains.

On the Murder at the Vicarage front, I'm still making my way through at a snail's pace.  Up to page 72 now.  We have a murder, and now with the introduction of Inspector Slack (still an arrogant asshat), it should become a faster read.

My classic for the month, Playing Beatie Bow, is still sitting on top of the basket, waiting for me to pick it up.  Will have to get on that soon as January is just flying by.

Have three new books that should arrive in the post later this week.  Ordered Les Miserables (I know, but I just couldn't resist it), and two of the four books I was missing in the Psy-Changeling series, Shield of Winter and Shards of Hope.  Want to get them all finished before the next release later this year.

Surrounded on all sides by cats!  This is Phrynekinns.

Have a huge stash of books on lay-by in town that I will be picking up later this month, but they will need a post of their own there are so many of them.  Then my self-imposed book ban goes into effect.  I can only buy books that are part of a series that I am already reading - and not the start of a new series - and no stand alone books either, unless they are for a book challenge.  Thrift shop books are a no-go, and unless I get books as gifts, my one and only 'splurge' will be the annual Bookarama held in October.  Thankfully I read a lot of series, so I'm not going to be totally book deprived.

So, that's all from me.  I hope you're having a great January and curling up with a good book.

Until next time,

Meet Phryne!

On Saturday morning I brought home the newest furry member in our family.  A gorgeous little furball - who looks so much like Evie Nyxx it's spooky! - she came from the RSPCA's adoption pen at our local shopping centre (a school holidays awareness and adoption campaign).  Phryne is supposed to be 7 and a half months old, but from the size of her I'd say she's more 4 and a half months.

Why the name Phryne?  Well it just so happens that I was watching an episode of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries not long after we got her home.  I still hadn't thought of a name - she was listed as Roxanne at the shelter! - and I decided that she had spunky attitude, mysterious past and gorgeous looks of our leading lady ;-D

Cute as a button, playful and quirky, I think that this little stripy bundle will liven up the household and provide companionship to not only myself, but to Titchy and Evie Nyxx as well.

It's now day 3, and last night Evie Nyxx and Phrynekinns (don't blame me, blame Cousin Guy!) played chase-me-Charlie all through the living area.  I found them curled up within touching distance on the couch, and this morning I woke up to the sounds of cats thundering around the house so I am optimistic that life will settle back to it's usual quiet rhythms in a few more days.

It is such a rewarding experience adopting an animal, so if you are wanting a new pet - be it a dog, cat, chicken, donkey, or pig - please check out your local RSPCA Animal Shelter and give an animal a second chance.

 

Big Weekend - iMac and a new cat

Sorry about being m.i.a recently.  I spent a week house-sitting for my mother as she went on a week long cruise to the Barrier Reef with my aunt.  They had a great time, even if my mum couldn't find her land legs for a few days after, but it poured rain for most of the time.  In 72 hours my neighbours had 8+ inches in their rain gauge!

So, as I was saying, I was house sitting and on my second last day there I fired up the laptop and decided to defrag it as it was getting a tad sluggish.  Everything went as always, until I got home on Easter Sunday.  I fired up the laptop and ended up with a black screen that keep looping back to a start-up repair menu.  OMG!!!  No internet access at my mother's house - their phone lines aren't set up for cable, and wi-fi isn't an option either due to reception difficulties.  So I've been without internet for 2 weeks and had to fork out for a new computer!  Luckily I found a great special that JB Hi-Fi was having - a MASSIVE 10% off ALL Apple computers and accessories.  Being the budget conscious gal I am I quickly rang the local shops to see if they'd price match (NO), and then called my mum to see if she could pick it up for me before she was due to come out here on Friday.  Yes, she could - and so on Friday morning I took possession of my first ever Apple computer.  So exciting ;-D

Now I was so eager to get back online, but being a good daughter I waited until after my mum's visit. With the internet not an option, I ended up going to the local shopping centre with her yesterday and since it is the school holidays the RSPCA have had a collection of cute kittens there all week.  Yesterday though, they brought in some older cats {over 6 mths I think} and all of them looked similar to my Evie Nyxx.  I fell for the smallest of the three, and she is soooo cute.  I really didn't need another cat in the house, but my Titchy is getting very old and raggedy and I don't want Evie Nyxx to pine for her when I loose her.  Call me crazy for introducing Phryne (also known as Phrynekinns), but looking into that gorgeous face I couldn't say no.

As you can see she is the spitting image of Evie Nyxx... just a lighter colour I think.

It's now 24 hours later and after a sleepless night - sleeping with one eye open so as to avoid WWIII - I have a purring Phryne on the bed and a still not impressed Evie Nyxx on my lap as I try to type over her ;-D  I'm still trying to get used to the mac way of things and missing my older version of Photoshop CS4 as I'm now without a photo editor program.  I really didn't think this through did I?

Keep your fingers crossed for me that the furry family settles down over the next few days - and that I start to get my head wrapped around this new way of doing things with my iMac.

So until next time my lovelies,

Did I mention it's cold?

Hi there, my lovelies. I may have metioned it a time or two over the last few days, that it's getting cold.  Today I really mean it... I'M COLD!  As I sit here typing, I have a hot water bottle snuggly sitting on my lap, some woolly wrist warmers keeping my wrist warm (obviously), layered long sleeve shirts, a beanie, track pants (uh, sweat pants in America?) and warm woolly socks with Ugg boots on.  If I could, I'd be rugged up in my thick blanket as well.

There's a hot water bottle underneath all the blankets as well!

Last night I took a photo of my cat snuggling up to my hot water bottle - she also snuck under the blankets some time during the night! - just to show you I'm not kidding.  And to add insult to injury, it's toasty warm outside in the sun.  (Whoever designed these units needed to run his designs by his mum to make sure it would work in 'real life' and not just on the page as the living rooms share the internal wall!)  Anyhow, I'm off to enjoy a hot lunch and try to find a sunny spot to read.  Fingers crossed I thaw out soon ;-D

When you can't find your cat...

Always check the bathroom ;-D

Favourite pic!

This is my favourite picture at the moment.  During a cold night, my cat decided that I should share the doona and demanded to be let in under the bedding.  When I lifted the sheets a couple of minutes later, this was what greeted me....

Cheeky little monkey ;-D

Small Break

Hi all,

I just had a few days computer free.  It was wonderful to not jump online and sit at a desk for a couple of hours - during which time I usually end up with a really numb butt at some stage ;-D

During this down time, I managed to get some general cleaning done around the house that I've been putting off for a while, as well as cook a few meals to put into the freezer for those times when I'm too tired to cook.  Thinking ahead, that's me!

Resized from original (f/6.2, 1/25sec, ISO-125)

I've also been trying to curb my reading as well.  I have to make an appointment with the optometrist soon as it's been about 2 years since I've had my prescription checked - oops! - and my eyes are just so scratchy at the moment.  Until then, I'll be taking it easy and sticking to audiobooks at night.  This will also leave me more time to play around with my new digital camera that I finally bought to replace my old reliable Fuji Finepix.  It was fabulous, but at nearly 9 years of age (and only 6MPs) it was getting frustrating to take clear macro shots that I could use in my photography.  All I really needed was a everyday camera for the moment - my phone's camera totally sucks! - until I decide what digital SLR to go with.  So last night I spent some time playing around with the settings and taking photos of anything that would stand still long enough... as you can see from my curious cat above.

PS - If you have any digital SLR recommendations, please, please, please let me know in the comments section ;-D

Hard at work

Life's tough, when your a cat ;-D

Mini-meltdown

Just a quick post today.  I was rudely roused out of bed this morning by a knock at the door.  Turns out that after 2 months, the tradesman who have been contracted by my landlord finally arrived to install the required handrails in the bathroom...d'oh!

Murphy's Law

You have all experienced it, and even mocked it.  But this weekend has just been one annoying incident after another!  

My boss left for a week long cruise of the South Pacific - lucky duck! - and I'm running things solo for the next week (but I've only been there for 9 weeks... as a casual!).  Okay, so yesterday (Day 1) I end up with a few curly situations where things happened that we hadn't discussed, and I hadn't thought to ask.  It all worked out - however my deodorant nearly failed me in the meantime.

Ouchie!

Then, last night while I was putting some laundry back in the wardrobe my stripy ninja cat decided to play under the hanging clothes.  Nothing sinister about that?  Yeah, right.  As I was sliding the door shut she made a desperate leap out and over a large glass coffee table top that I'd had propped up on it's side.  She bumped it and it came crashing down... onto my ankle!  It felt like a bomb had gone off in my ankle and the vein that runs down the front of the ankle started to swell like a balloon.  Unfortunately I couldn't just limp off to fix it.  I had to go lug out the vacuum cleaner, and then clean up the broken glass so the furry people didn't cut their feet!  Once that was done - painfully mind you - it was off to the bathroom to get some cold water and a compression sock.  Funnily, I didn't see said cat until I was tucked up in bed - and even then she managed to walk on my ankle as she clambered over the quilt.

Today I took it easy.  I made a comfy nest in the lounge room and watched Season One of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (fabulous!) and read Celebrity in Death.  Thankfully tomorrow is a public holiday here so I can take it easy again.  Finger's crossed I will be fit for duty on Tuesday, otherwise I will up the creek without a paddle...

Crazy Cat

Kitten little is driving me insane! 

Oh, sorry.  Were you reading that?

Not anymore! 

Then, the other night...

Oooh, lots of bubbles!

She spent over 20 minutes just watching the bubbles from all different angles.

I'd take a sip and put the glass down, and she'd be up and guarding the glass again!

Plus, she also...

Hmmm, tea... I think I like this.

Oh, were still wanting to drink this?

And this is just what I've caught her doing!  Cheeky little monkey ;-D