Rushing

So ... wasn't April a glorious month, weatherwise?? Up until about twelve hours ago, at least?? I gave Sweeney's winter coat from last year away, without having a replacement on hand. That's how glorious it was. Now I've cranked up the heater, pulled the curtains, and am contemplating how to wangle having the oven on all day tomorrow.

Sweeney and Harper headed to their Nana's for the school holidays. That made things verrrry quiet around my way for two weeks. I ran, I read, I ate carelessly. I did just about everything in a more leisurely manner than usual.

It sounds like all three of them had a ball down there. The boys took in a ballet, learnt to make pizza, wrote charming letters home, and came back knowing more about the solar system than I do. 

The big thing for me, since Sweeney got back, has been rugby. In an unusual move, we went to see the Crusaders trample the Hurricanes the night he got home. He greatly enjoyed waving his flag and drinking lemonade. I rather enjoyed the actual rugby.

He and Harper have joined an Under-6 team, and today was their first game. They're called the Wild Jaguars. Spectators fell about laughing as our children ran the wrong way, forgot to pass the ball, froze in the face of the opposing team bearing down upon them. Pure gold.

And my mum's been in town, staying at Kimberley's. It's been great to have her just a matter of minutes away. Plus she's doing an awesome job of doing a mountain of chores for their household while Joe's consumed with study and being on section.

In other news, I've finally made peace with the fact that Sweeney is not made for fishing. After several tries, including one where Grandad's glasses fell into Oriental Bay, and Sweeney guided him back to the car, I realise that the kid just isn't built for contemplative activities. If he's outside, he's likely to be moving at max speed. Hence, the rugby.

It's so nice to have him back around the house. Turns out I really rather like it a bit noisy and on-the-verge-of-frantic, even if I'm the one making the most noise sometimes ...

Run Run Run

February was all about the running, for me. Did you know that I'm a runner? Oh yes. Not Usain Bolt or anything. Just slogging it out, looking reasonably appalling, usually bright red from the first couple of strides. Anyhow, Kimberley and I did Round the Bays this year. It required training and commitment, which meant I was entirely likely to give up quickly, so we joined a running group and put ourselves through all kinds of torture every Monday and Wednesday for what felt like years. Among other things, I know that I can jump up the Hood St steps now. Not in one go, mind. That would be silly. More importantly, I know that I can run for 45 minutes without stopping, although calling it running is kind of generous. So, in the spirit of recognising your limitations and accepting the aging process and all that, we're doing a 10km race in April. Training independently this time, and I actually am doing it. Now that 45 minutes is doable, going out by myself for a 30 minute run feels fine. That said, I'm not up for running in the rain or anything hardcore like that. In other news, I have an iPad now. My trusty laptop finally gave up the ghost, after several near-death experiences and technological interventions over the years. I found myself feeling strangely liberated as I did a perfunctory amount of research, made a careful decision to buy a Windows laptop, then lost my head when I saw a great deal for iPads and bought one on the spot. Genius. It's a different experience - the whole Mac thing - but there's a lot to love so far. The built-in camera, for one ... But can anyone tell me how to upload a photo from my iPad onto this-here blog post? I'm baffled, to be sure.

Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win

Sweeney's fresh back from two weeks in Christchurch with his Nana. Sounds to me like they had a fabulous time - reading books, watching Fantasia a bunch of times, gardening, going for outings, chatting, eating delicious food, and on and on and on ...

Meanwhile, I was here in Wellington, indulging in time to myself, which usually took the form of looking at things in shops on the way home from work, or hanging out with terrific people I don't see much. Or on one day, going back to bed with a great book, a pot of coffee and a pile of marmalade on toast. That was an ace day, to be sure.

Even the fact that Sweeney's picked up chicken pox hasn't spoiled the vibe. He's on the home strait now, the spots are fading. And to be fair, he hasn't seemed that bothered by it, apart from a tiny bit of head scratching. But he's hanging at home for the rest of the week, even though I expect full-scale cabin fever any minute now.

And with his spots, he reckons he's "just like a cheetah, Mum".

He certainly can run fast, and for ages, these days.

In other news, what about that rugby, eh?? What about those enormous men swigging beer from that teensy tiny cup??  Always makes me laugh.

And I won $15 in the sweepstake at work, for Australia coming in third.

Little Star

 What Sweeney's been doing for the last while - highlights ...  

Caught some considerable snow action up the Rimutakas



Had a wicked time at the skate park with Bela

  

Stayed in Wellington while his mum and Nana were caught in the snow in Christchurch



Was awestruck with Harper at the Observatory

Made inarrpopriate use of the big gun outside the Observatory

Stunned his mother by asking if he could have a salad sandwich for dinner. Stunned her some more by actually eating it.

Went to see The Lion King in 3d.

Had that pesky dead tooth removed.

Crikey.

Miles Away

March was a bit of a hell month. Work was all about getting 15-odd people over the line by the 31st, getting the hang of a new boss and not going completely mental in the process. Weekends were all about a gajillion actvities, obligations and chores, and not going completely mental in the process.
The last half of the month, I hardly saw Sweeney, except to bark orders and wrangle him into yet another direction he wasn't too fussed on.

To head off the madness, a clutch of us skedaddled over the hill for the weekend.

A spot of nature, delicious drinks, fabulous cheese, lots of swearing-because-we'd-all-ditched-the-children, possibly some dancing to Jose Feliciano, the pleasure of hanging out with the finest company about.
And now back to normal transmission ...

Time to Pretend

Just in from MGMT. What an ace show, what with the lights and the sound and the tunes and all. And I was in excellent company, what with the Ruth and the John and the Lee. And the Student Union was all refurbished and flash, with Jamesons on offer even, and the place jam-packed with well-groomed young things. Orientation gigs are a whole world away from in my day.

Admittedly, my day was about 3 million years ago.

Another gig where I am entirely unfamiliar with the music, but am now feverishly downloading ace tunes off the interwebs ....

Hot 'n' Cold

Cold:

• Sweeney not having nearly enough sleep last night, refusing to eat his breakfast, not listening to what I say yada yada yada all day;
• me not being in the mood for patience with any of that stuff today;
• finding that Hataitai's fabulous fish and chip shop has burnt down;
• finding that Newtown's fabulous fish and chip shop doesn't open on Sundays;
• forgetting my gluten free-ness when Maria brought around her mum's apple slice at work the other day;
• my dad breaking up a catfight in the sunroom and getting bitten and ending up in hospital for a night; and
• finding that those packages of salad leaves don't actually last until the Best By date. Ick.

Hot:

• the weather. Just the right hotness for an Ange;
• Supergroove and Crowded House at Alana Estate yesterday, with Bela and Liisa;
• Liisa for spiriting up the tickets for Supergroove and Crowded House at Alana Estate yesterday;
• Chicken with 40 cloves of garlic, from Kitchen, using the mountain of garlic donated by the neighbours. Although no-one else liked it. So I ate everyone's;
• harvesting three tomatoes from the garden this week;
• Monday night class at yoga;
• having dinner with the O'Neills for Grandad O'Neill's birthday;
• seeing our friend Jackson at his birthday party today - Happy birthday, Jackson!!;
• catching up with KimberleyJoeHarper after their holiday;
• remembering my gluten free-ness every morning and eating rice porridge for breakfast; and
• finally washing the kitchen floor today. The mice left me a note complaining that it was too filthy by half ...

The Doctor Is In

I've been having myself seen to, and am feeling rather splendid that it's over.

The procedure itself was no big deal. They do a lot of them, the doctor told me, and they get through them pretty quickly. Normally you're out the same day. I would've been out the same day if I hadn't had to wait for seven months for the procedure - in that time the single polyp had grown enormous, and my body had decided it could do with a twin polyp, too. So, to be sure, to be sure, I stayed in hospital for a little, and it was really rather lovely. I felt like Superman - I was the only patient I saw who was actually walking, for a start, and, what ho!! Here's lunch!! Oh, and a cup of something hot!! And baked fish for dinner, with sponge and custard for afters!! And a rack of silly women's magazines!!

To say nothing of the fabulous nursing staff, and the beds that go up and down, and the pain medication that just kept on coming, and the people who appear out of the mist with mops and cloths and plastic aprons to clean up everything.

On the other hand, I could go on all day about how angry it's made me that I had to wait so long for this to happen. The amount of money put up by the taxpayer to subsidise the medication to manage my body for seven months could've been saved. I would've been home yesterday, and the girl who came in to ED with a crippling urinary infection would've been able to get into the ward at dinner time last night, rather than at 5am this morning.

I would've had actual dominion over my own actual body for the last seven months, rather than feeling like a time bomb most of the time. Yes, waiting lists are a feminist issue. Government policy that removes from me the control of my own body?? No, thank you.

The woman in the bed next to me has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Instantly, she and her family were sorting out private treatment options. That's a real shame, don't you think?

But anyway, thanks Wellington Hospital!! You look beautiful, too, by the way ... 

Paris is Burning

Hey, I went to Laneway festival last night with Liisa. Great night. We had a few drinks, some halloumi salad, ran into people we knew about the place.

The music was just about all unfamiliar to me, but it was amazing. It was so unfamiliar to me that I thought that it was all New Zealand bands, but no, only Ladyhawke was from around here. I think I liked her the best of all. She might be wee, but she belts it out, for sure.

I was struck by how well-groomed and well-behaved the Youth were. There was a waft of soap smell when they walked past. Not like when I was Youth. Music venues were smoky and beer-sodden, people pushed and shoved, and I expect even I was a bit whiffy at times. The sound equipment was usually awful, and it all made going to bands an endurance event for me.

But not last night. Last night was all rather lovely.

I really don't know much about contemporary music these days, and I want to rectify that. I hear splendid music at my friends' houses and I must try harder this year.

That said, Gang of Four are coming to Auckland soon. I loved them when I was 18, they got me interested in economic theory and inspired me to sit down and read Karl Marx. Maybe time to hunt some down and listen to it all over again ...

Bumper 2010

What did you do in 2010 that you've never done before??

Wore platform-type wedge-ish shoes. Became aware of my thyroid. Saw a 3D movie. Had my hair coloured.

Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year??

2010 was all about recovering from the car crash that was 2009, with a couple of super-stressful exams thrown in. 2011 will be about building further on that - further development of my work brain, less takeaway food, better organisation / tidiness, and losing enough weight to make some proper headway with yoga.

Did anyone close to you die?

Sweeney's grandma Joan died after a long, unfair illness.

What countries did you visit?

Good lord, I don't even think I have a passport anymore ...

What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?

Well, I'm going to have full health after a wee bit of surgery and a blast of radioactivity in the next six weeks. That'll be awesome. And I don't know that I lacked this, but I will have a schoolboy in the house, come June.

What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

This is a bit sad, but it's October 1st, because it's the date the Budget personal tax cuts were implemented, and that's what most of my work life this year was about.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Workwise, I passed two exams that I convinced myself I had no chance of passing. Personalwise,

I resumed my yoga practice and I swear to all the gods that it's given me another centimetre of height.

What was your biggest failure?

I haven't decluttered nearly so much as I need to. And I totally didn't cure Sweeney of arguing with me every time I ask him to do anything / offer him anything / issue a direct order relating to his safety.

Did you suffer illness or injury?

Actually, I spent a lot of this year feeling sub-optimal. There's a muscle in my shoulder that goes out if I think a sideways thought, and the months leading up the the Great Thyroid Diagnosis were just vile. Yoga has mostly sorted the shoulder, or at least given me a way to alleviate it, and I'm embracing western medicine for the thyroid. Feel much better these days ...

What was the best thing you bought?

My Huffer raincoat. Weather is so not the boss of me anymore.

Whose behaviour merited celebration?

Everyone representing the company, the miners, their families and their community over the Pike River disaster. They were respectful, refreshingly open and honest, and held it together under devastating circumstances.

And the team I've been working with for the last six months. Man alive, they are beyond words. You got your tax cuts and increased Working for Families tax credits this year?? That's because of these people and their knowledge and their dedication to doing a quality job for the public. Management, take note.

Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

Our current government, especially our so-called Social Welfare minister, Paula Bennett. Do not get me started. This latest debacle with the wee girl whose mother sought help directly from the PM and Bennett's office just makes me wish we could get a coup going ...

Where did most of your money go?

The same old chestnuts - the mortgage and preschool. With some chunks here and there for house maintenance. And a lovely holiday in November.

What did you get really, really excited about?

Seeing the Pixies in Auckland. Seeing the team through to October 1st. Sweeney's birthday.

What song will always remind you of 2010?

Celebration, by Madonna. And I Bleed, by the Pixies.

What do you wish you'd done more of?

Lego. No contest.

Did you fall in love in 2010?

Only with the apricot slice at the Cozy Cake Shop. You will, too.

What did you want and get?

I saw the Pixies, passed my exams, landed in an entirely suitable work situation, got the willow pruned.

What did you want and not get?

I keep putting off buying a new duvet. And I really have to get the hang of iTunes.

To close, I'll leave you with the most horrifying image I've seen in ages. Take care, people ...

Holiday

Hey, the holiday is going great. Nearly over, but still lots to do and see and we're all having a good time. This morning I went back to bed with my book and when I got up, it was lunchtime, and the boys and Nana were just arriving back from a trip to feed ducks. With ice creams for our pudding.
Now that's Good Holiday, people ...
The weather's been amazing, we've been hanging out with super people, and seeing the boys together for an extended period of time has been great. There've been a few fights, some anguish, half a million band aids and one bout of terrifying nappy rash, but I think that as long as we're all realistic about exactly when we need a nap - and I'm including myself here, peace is where it's at.
Photos when we get back home.
In other news, Miss Smith, who I can't mention without telling you how fab she is, has given me a Versatile Blogger award. Coming from one such as herself, this is high praise. Oooh, get me. I'm revelling.

Unfortunately, I'm unable to provide photo evidence of rampant versatility right now. I've been having a Big Relax, as Sweeney would say. I tend to just write about whatever takes me at the minute of writing, and I'm chuffed that there are people out there who enjoy it.

The prize comes with two jobs attached. I need to hand this prize on, which is hard because there are a grillion tasty blogs out there, beautifully written on interesting topics. So here are three ...

Clare at Green Valley Crafts

Gillybean at Gillybean's Garden

Kimberley at Special K.

Now, I need to tell you seven things you may not know about me:

1. When I was 10, I planned to grow up to be the Ambassador to Japan. Or a Speech Therapist. I'm not either of those things;
2. I don't see my friends as much as I'd like;
3. I love rollmop herrings, sardines in oil - no spring water, thank you - and most other fish-type things;
4. as scathing as I generally am about science fiction, I think Iain M. Banks is a genius. Most people I know who actually know something about science fiction think he's a dick;
5. I have at least two slightly humiliating skin conditions. Each is dealt with efficiently with steroid cream and/or hydrocortisone, but I continue to look for less evil methods;
6. when I go to work, I'm all about work. I don't call my friends or family, I hardly write any personal emails and I have an alarm to remind me to leave in time to pick Sweeney up. I never used to be like that. I rather like that I'm like that now;
7. I was recently diagnosed with a thyroid disorder, and now I have meds and blood tests and my body feels better than it has in a long, long time. I'm totally able to blast that pesky 10-15kg now ...

In other, other news, thinking good thoughts for the Pike River miners these days. We've got a long family history of West Coast mining, but no whanau are directly involved in this episode. It's looking pretty bleak right now, but you never know ...
And I passed my exam. Only just, but I passed it. And I found an awesome antiperspirant that actually works. And we're going to Costas for dinner ...
Feel that serenity ...

How Sweet It Is

I've been busy. Bizz-ay. Sorry for not being in touch.

Here's something delicious that came out of the garden. Well, I think it's delicious, and so did Sweeney once he engaged with it. Broccoli, you are the shizz ...

I also harvested what turned out to be 50grams of broad beans, gave them a wee boil, then fried them off with some bacon for a minute or so. River Cottage book called for chorizo, but there's none in the fridge right now. Turned out delish, as it happens. Turns out I like broad beans.

Here are Sweeney and Harper experiencing the shizz that is sparklers. Guy Fawkes night was a minor triumph. We got all our cracker action done before the southerly proper rounded on Wellington, and we got to take in the show in the harbour on our way back into town. I thought the chap in the car in front of me was sent from Hades to drive me insane with his slow driving, but no, he was part of a long, 30kph convoy on the motorway, doing us the lovely favour of letting us take in the show without crashing the car.

In other news, I'm going on holiday on Monday. I'm packing the car with Sweeney and Harper, and we're heading down to spend oodles of time - two weeks - with their Nana. A road trip with two fine-looking young men with all their own teeth. Every crone's dream ...

But in the meantime, I've got about three years of work to do before we head off, and there's a million things to do around the house this weekend. So tonight Kimberley and I went to see The Social Network. Turns out we were wearing matching outfits, sort of. The film was very fine. Go see it now. Even the music is great. And no-one does cold, blue cinematography like David Fincher.

And it was our dad, Sweeney and Harper's Grandad's birthday yesterday. In honour of the great event, Sweeney gave him a card with Lightning McQueen on the front and the sound of racing cars when you open it. That card is so much the shizz ...

All Right Now

Yes, it's been a little while. Sorry about that. I've had a viral respiratory infection, followed by a bacterial chest infection, and frankly, it's knocked me right off my perch. Off my perch.

But now I'm nearly back to normal, apart from three or four tubercular-sounding coughing fits a day.

In no order of importance, here are a few snippets from the last two weeks:

• Sweeney fell over and banged his cheek on the step one night. It swelled up and looked nasty, but after half an hour with a cold cloth and a cuddle, it all came right. In the morning I asked him how his face felt, and he said "dirty";
• I haven't been to yoga for two weeks. Every time I do a downward dog, I nearly pass out with oxygen deprivation;
• we moved offices. Now I work in the swankiest, most expensive office space in Wellington. We have all brand new cups and glasses and cutlery. The lights dim when the natural light increases, and vice versa. The lift has no buttons. Yes, really;
• I have an exam on Tuesday. I really don't feel like studying, and being sick took two weeks off my schedule;
• tickets are booked for me, Sweeney and Harper to head to Christchurch and beyond in November; and
• Dad made macaroni cheese last night for dinner. Awesome;
• the first blooms have come out on the Dublin Bay at the front of the house. Just beautiful;
• Mum continues to live through ongoing aftershocks in Christchurch;
• Sweeney, Harper and I went to Bela's fifth - FIFTH - birthday party, just as The Illness was coming on. I was a sub-optimal guest - no wrapping on the present, no revving the kids up, no glugging back litres of fizzy wine - but the boys had a really good time. Harper was excited the night before about cake, and Sweeney just loves Bela's dolls' house.

Writing that was exhausting. Zzzzzzzz.

That Day is Done

My horoscope today said a whole bunch of stuff about rubbing against the world instead of flowing along with it. It so turned out that way.

Spooky.

I felt a vague sense of annoyance at just about everyone I dealt with at work. Some people at work made me feel less vague about my annoyance, but there you go.

I found out the hard way that my bean sprouts last six days, but not seven. Yuk.

I went to the yoga class that I look forward to more than any other yoga class, and I was so out of sorts with it that I left and stood in the foyer for a few minutes just to make myself less out of sorts. Then I went back in and felt better.

It is the best yoga class ever. Really.

As I walked home I contemplated buying a KFC burger and scarfing it in the street. So glad I didn't.

Because dinner was delicious and Sweeney was chuffed to see me and I had a lovely shower and read him The Snail and the Whale and Dad brought out delicious pudding and now I'm watching a Poirot on telly.

In other news, Harper was at our place for a few days last week, while Kimberley spent some time in Christchurch with Mum. Okay, I know - they're little boys - and little boys like to pick their nose. But somehow two of them going at it got to me and I introduced a horror regime - timeout for anyone caught picking their nose.

It's turned out effective as all get-out, but the crowning moment was when they caught me - ME - idly wiggling a finger up my own nose, and they thought it was great gas to put me - ME - into timeout.

This is the view from timeout. Not so bad, is it?? I'm coming to think that timeout's rather lovely, after all.

The prospect of 44 minutes being left completely alone was quite appealing, but Sweeney told me I could come out after five minutes, because he and Harper needed juice.

Joan

It's been a big couple of weeks. Biggest news is that Sweeney's grandma died last week and was buried on Tuesday. She was really nice. She took nice to a whole new level. She made nice people look rubbish. She was actually supernice. There was a big turnout for the funeral.

One thing I really like about funerals is the stories you hear. I found out that Joan was actually a bit of a slob in her youth. Left her clothes on the floor, kept her room like a tip, that sort of thing. This wouldn't be news, except that I always knew her as the tidiest, cleanest, most fastidious person ever. Can't wait for that transformation to come down on me.

Sweeney's been on the go. Here are some highlights:

• turns out Sweeney can ride a bike without training wheels. I had no idea. I think he had no idea, either. He just wanted to be like his friend Frank;
• he's been pottering in the garden with me, now that the afternoons are stretching out a bit. Noticing buds forming on trees, flowers on the bean seedlings, the bowl of hyacinths blooming on the deck;
• he's been catching up with his cousins, especially Victoria and William, who were up for the funeral;
• actually, the funeral was an absolute blast for him - he wore his Spiderman shirt, enjoyed hot and cold running uncles, aunties and cousins, the lovely Jackson, chocolate slice, football out the back of Grandad O'Neill's house, throwing clumps of clay into Grandma's grave with William while the uncles filled it in. When we got home, he curled up on the living room floor to go to sleep - so knackered;
• Blessing came for a sleepover last weekend. Everyone was completely exhausted by the time it was over. Just how it should be;
• Sweeney's been just the loveliest company the last couple of days. Actually, much longer than that, but there was a Terrible Incident on Wednesday and it blew the good run. I hate to say it, but I think sticker charts really work at cutting back the obstreperousness ...

Here's a picture Sweeney took on the night of Joan's funeral. We went home the long way and stopped at Breaker Bay to take in the hysterically full moon and the water.
Oh, and so much more happened, but I can't remember what I had for lunch today, let alone anything from last week. We did stuff. It was nice.

Om(mmmm)a Rapeti

I've been getting a lot out of yoga classes over the last month. I'm especially trying to make the most of the relaxation stuff at the beginning and end of each class, but I meet with varying success. The meandering thoughts are one thing, but today I couldn't even keep physically still. Here's how it went:

Teacher: "Focus on the breath. See where the breath takes you."

My mind: "Man, I'm loving marmalade right now. Funny how you go off things for a bit, then rediscover them and ... oh, breathing. Brea.thing. Oooh, breathing feels nice. I can sooo take longer to exhale than that person next to me. No, no, no, that's not why you're here, is it? It's all about ... no, it's just not about competition. But still, heh, what an amateur she is. I am soooo excellent at exhalation."

Teacher, who has clearly been issuing instructions to the class for some time: " .... and that's the pivotal part of the body, so concentrate, focus everything on this part of the body ..."

My mind: "What the?? What part of the body?? Good grief. Oh well, no-one can see that I have no clue as to what the most important part of my body is. I'll just keep breathing. Breeeeeeathingggggg. Did I put the washing on before I came out?? Did I check Sweeney's bag for dirty clothes?? Oh, back to breathing. Breathing."

Okay, it's not as bad as the day I dropped off during the relaxation and awoke to find people doing actual moves. I love yoga so.

The picture above comes from this blog. I've been reading it this week - genius.

In other news, I made delicious spuds to go with our dinner tonight. Lemons and anchovies, vege stock. Awesome. One day I'm going to go the whole hog and do a vast fish to go with them, as the recipe says. Tonight, we found them enormously satisfactory with steak and salad.

And then I happened to be in the car when Peter Fry's show came on National Radio. He played an absolutely charming 1939 recording of Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen singing Run Rabbit. I went home the long way, so I could hear it all the way through. Gorgeous.

(Kind of) Wish You Were Here

I'll tell you a story about one of the better birthday parties I ever went to. It was Martin's 40th birthday, and he was in Auckland Hospital, undergoing assessment to see if he could go forward for a liver transplant.

The previous week had been enormously stressful, and he'd had a stint in ICU, but he'd rallied and we were all feeling rather chipper. All the extra fluid he'd been dragging around for months had been dialysed off and he looked and felt comparatively great.

His team of doctors sang Happy Birthday to him at morning rounds.

Kimberley had come up to stay with me for a bit, and we spent the morning racing around Auckland looking for a Happy Birthday banner. Martin's dad brought the cake, I think, and everyone who visited came with lollies or biscuits.

There's a photo, which I can't find now, of Kimberley guffawing at something stupid Martin was doing, while, behind her, a chap in the bed opposite Martin's is gurning in anguish as his transplanted kidney gives him enormous gyp. We were so used to hospitals by this point that we could switch off other people six feet away.

Anyway, that was six years ago today.

He's been on my mind lately, not just because of his birthday, but because his mum's not doing so well herself now. Sweeney and I spent some time with her on Sunday, and Sweeney told her about his cars and his train set.

Then there was a knees-up at Grandad O'Neill's house, with almost full contingent of O'Neill uncles and aunties. Good food, good fun.

In other news, Sweeney's friend Blessing came for a sleepover. There was pizza, chocolate biscuits, a looooooong bath, a kickaround at the end of the street with Frank and Arthur, inaugurating the train set etc ...

What nice boys.

Top Fab Fave Five

Top five for this week:

1. Top escape attempt. I can't even see where his tiny little fingers could go to haul himself up this wall, but he found a way. Then shimmied down on his bottom. And repeat. Honestly, the photo makes the wall look shorter and less freaky than it really is ...
2. Top hosiery. I rather fancy myself in these, don't you know ... You can't see the purple houndstooth action properly. I think you can see that my shoes need polishing, though. Just look away ...

3. Top meaty goodness. This week's stewy fiesta from Hugh F-W involves a lot of rubbishy chops, fried off for a little, then simmered in stock, lemon juice and thyme. I used commercial stock and I think that's really what informs the resulting flavour more than anything. Next time I'll use much more juice and thyme, and fry off some onions with the chops at the start. But it's still flipping delish!!

4. Top outing with Sweeney. Girded my loins - is that the term?? - and took Sweeney for a jaunt on his scooter to the Sunday market at Waitangi Park. He was so great about traffic, other people on the foothpath, stopping when he was supposed to. So chuffed. And then he was mostly co-operative about following instructions when we got there. Okay, we wouldn't have fruit this week if Kimberley hadn't arrived and taken over wrangling him for a bit, but details, shmetails ...

5. Top 3.5 hours I had all to myself to do whatever I wanted to, while Sweeney was at Harper's and I wasn't at work. Sunday afternoon. I did some washing, cooked a few meals for the week, tidied the deck, knitted a little and watched a bit of afternoon telly with no-one campaigning for the 10 millionth playing of Cars instead. Blissful. Thanks, KimberleyJoe Harper!!

More people's five top things over here ...

Fab Five

Fave Five for this weeks are ...

1. Best parcel - Nana's parcel for her Precious Boys, crammed with chocolate treats, and best of all, a torch each!! Sweeney fell asleep last night with his torch still on, snuggled under his armpit. There was a sweet little glow when I went in to check on him before I turned in. Thanks, Nana!! ;

2. Best Dinner - from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's newish book, a chicken casserole. The recipe calls for cider, but I used fizzy wine and it turned out ... awesome. I'm totally in love with this book. Hugh is now the new Nigella in my life. Sorry, Nigella ... ;

3. Best Dinner Guests - Sweeney's Grandad O'Neill and Uncle Ben came over for dinner. We had chicken casserole - see above. Sweeney ate an outrageous amount of broccoli. That's how much he wanted to get to the chocolate payoff at the end of dinner, I guess. I so love Easter;

4. Best Park - Karori Park, at the end of Karori Road, in Karori. You want me to go into my theory of Parks and how they're pitched at different types and ages of kids and whatnot?? You do?? Really?? Well, that's a whole other post. Whatever age your child or dog is, or you are, you should check out Karori Park, at the end of Karori Road, in Karori;

5. Best Fence Removal - Joe, Dad, Denis, Geoff and apparently strangers passing in the street pitched in and removed the rotting fence that divides our property from Geoff's. Brushes with tetanus, spider attack and hernia explosion were narrowly avoided. Sweeney and Harper supervised.

More Top Fives here ...

Top Five

Top Five things around here at the minute:

1. Top War Movie - isn't Where Eagles Dare just the most awesome war movie ever?? Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood together on screen, totally handsome, finest mahogany acting this side of the Black Forest. Richard Burton somehow passing himself off as a Nazi, even with his RADA-Pontrhydhyfen accent. And the fact that he's so obviously Richard Burton.

"One weekend Mayor Smith, Lieutenant Schaffer and a beautiful blonde named Mary decided to win World War II." Don't know about you, but my weekends rarely get that animated.

2. Top Cat - our cat Pippi's under enormous pressure from three neighbourhood cats. One used to live here, with us, up until more than five years ago, when we left for a few years, and he's been parking up on my bed in the afternoon the past few days. The other two just give her gyp by taking it in shifts to hang out on our deck all day long.

3. Top Roast - the chicken Kimberley turned out last night. It really was delish. Thanks, Kimp.

4. Top Sandwich - my dad's staying with us at the moment, and he made us bacon and egg sandwiches on Saturday night. Ooooh-errrrrr.
5. Top Outing - Sweeney and I spent a lovely few hours with our friends Lee and Louis and Alfie on Saturday. Louis showed Sweeney the best time at the Botanic Gardens park, Lee and I caught up on each other from a delightful perch in the shade, and Alfie lounged with us intermittently.

See more Top Fives here.