Licence renewals and other important government business ...

So I had to renew my Driver's Licence last week.

It's always an enjoyable task … NOT ... because it always involves waiting in a very long line … getting a really bad photo taken … and then paying an extremely large amount of money for the  pleasure.  It doesn't seem to matter what time of the day you decide to go either … there is always a long line … personally I have a theory that the authorities hire a rent a crowd to make themselves appear popular.

Anyhoo, last week it was time to renew my licence … and I very nearly forgot all about it … which could have been catastrophic.  I may have been involved in an accident, or been booked for speeding, or committed some other traffic infraction … and I most certainly would have needed a current driver's licence.  Fortunately I didn't … I wasn't … I wasn't  … and I didn't … but hey I could have!

As it turned out I managed to recall my impending expiry with 24 hours to spare and I made my way off to the relevant authorities at pace.  It was there that I discovered a brand new, cutting edge modification has been made to the licence photo procedure … you are no longer allowed to smile.  Best that we all look like criminals in mug shots … in order to keep the police on their toes.

So as I received my new licence it suddenly occurred to me that I could get a little blogging mileage out of this.  I would get out all my old photo licences and scan them into the computer.  Then I could create a clever collage to show my progression throughout the years … changing hairstyles … wrinkle development … etc, etc.  I could then post them on here … and we could all have a jolly good laugh at my expense.

Of course what I didn't take into account was that I wouldn't be able to find my old photo licences and that I would turn the house upside down in a fruitless and increasingly anxious search.  During which I would become entirely frustrated because I know … I just know ... I have kept them hoarded away somewhere … but I'll be blowed if I know where that somewhere is.

In the end I only managed to find the three most recent … which showed how I have boringly kept almost the exact same hairstyle for the last ten years … and defeated the entire purpose altogether.

But I'm forcing you to look at them anyway … cause I didn't go to all that bother for nothing!!

Drum roll please …

I give you Jo, circa 2004 …

Jo, circa 2009 …

And last … and entirely least … Jo, circa 2014…

DO NOT SMILE!!!

Now that was worth it … wasn't it.

In other equally unexciting news, Master 14 was given some homework by his English teacher to redesign the Australian Coat of Arms.

So I came up with … I mean HE came up with this one …

So much better than the original … I'm sure you'd agree ;0)

G'day Mate!

PS.  I just noticed this is my 500th post … YAY ME!!!

Stitchin and a Bitchin ...

It's early August … and that can only mean one thing in these parts … it's time for my annual weekend away.  A rollicking two days filled with good old fashioned stitching, bitching, overeating and alcoholic consumption.

There is a simple formula for a successful stitch and bitch.

You need to collect up an excessive amount of stuff … things you will need … and lots of things you won't need … but better take … just in case … cause you just never know.  You're only going for two days … but it is imperative that you pack as if you're leaving home for a month.

Amongst all this stuff you will include a "project" … now if you are an avid and motivated stitcher you will have a new and exciting project every year.  If you are me however, you will be working on the same project for the fourth year running.

You load all this stuff in your car … and head south … pausing briefly in the "big smoke" to pick up your fellow stitcher/bitcher … sister Juliet.  Now it is very important to head south … because when you are planning a getaway from the winter blues … it's imperative that you head in the direction of the coldest weather possible.

Upon your arrival you set up your sewing machine … and settle in for a weekend of serious crafting.

Oops … how did that get in here.

There will be other crafters there … and they will be doing clever, crafty things … things they have not been dawdling over for four years.

You will sew a bit … and drink a bit …

and then you will somehow manage to con your sister into believing that her time would be much better spent helping you out with your project than working on one of her own.

Then if you manage to stay on track just long enough … and survive the cold nights and frosty mornings …

you might … you just might … have something to show for your weekend away.

Hurrah … success!

Of course now it just has to be quilted … but that's a post for another four years time.

A picture's worth 1000 words … week 31 ...

A photo a day … every day … in 2014.

Day 208:  Someone needs a haircut.

Day 209:  Now that's a sky.

Day 210:  I see me.

Day 211:  Very important bee business.

Day 212:  I'm off for the weekend … and I've packed lightly … NOT!

Day 213:  Champagne and machinery with fast moving, needle sharp parts … the perfect combination.

Day 214:  Leading me down the garden path.

There was a birthday ...

There were brightly wrapped parcels.

There was a card.

There was an oscar winning performance of fake surprise.

There was some supermodel style posing.

There was a tiny bit of actual surprise.

There was a cake baked.

There was dinner out.

There were candles lit.

There were candles blown …

out.

There was cake cut ...

and eaten.

There was seriousness.

And not so seriousness.

And then there was the realisation that someone will be an adult in twelve months time!

A picture's worth 1000 words … week 30 ...

A photo a day … every day … in 2014.

Day 201:  Surfer and the sea.

Day 202:  The jumper says it all.

Day 203:  An evening in front of the box.

Day 204:  Silly selfie shenanigans.

Day 205:  Happy Birthday … MASTER 17!

Day 206:  Framed and ready to hang … sounds like an excerpt from a crime show.

Day 207:  Mirror, mirror … on the wall.