Monday, November 29, 2010

November's Something Different!

This month was most certainly something for me to be talking about.  I had a lot of fun and enjoyment; however I wasn't in the best health for it, which was a bummer.  But I'll explain what happened after I go over this month of different things I did this month.
Halloween was fun.   I dressed up the house more than I did last year.  I put out two Jack'o'lanterns and tied a skull to the door.  Very cool.  But I didn't get that many kids; which was a bit of a bummer... oh well, so long the ones who did come by had fun, that's all that matters.  And we did.  I walked them around the unit complex and back home and we all got lollies too.  I held a Halloween Circle in my back yard for the first time in two years and enjoyed it; I'll be doing more pagan ceremonies once I get my yard back into order.
Melbourne Cup Day was more fun.  Not only is it the only day I put a little money on the horses, but this year it was on the Day of the Dead.  so, I dressed in black just for the occasion.  Mum and I went to an Epilepsy Queensland luncheon and the food was great if you were a meat-eater; but lousy if you were vegetarian.  I could name all the ingredients that were used in my meal from the smell and taste of it... and yet it looked like something I could make at home.  When I attend these things, I'm hoping to eat something that isn't thrown together at the last minute (like this one was because we were served last; after everyone else had eaten) and isn't something I could have thrown together in five minutes flat.  Anyway, we all watched the race and enjoyed ourselves and my horses came first and third; winning me $88.  And you know, I've never lost a Melbourne Cup since I lost my job in 1997.  Not too bad if you ask me.
Less than a week later, I was off to see Sir James Galway in concert at the Concert Hall here in Brisbane for a one night only show.  I had organised my outfit for the last six months when I found out that Mum had bought the tickets.  But what she didn't tell me was that we had floor seats; she did tell me we had balcony seats instead, and apologised profusely.  I was bummed until she led me out to the floor and sat me down and I was stoked that we were sitting only rows from where we sat the last time he was in Brisbane 24 years ago.
After the concert, I lined up to meet him - as did another 200 people.  When it came to my turn, I said that we had met before and showed him the photo of us in 1986 and he was thrilled I had kept it for so long.  I also brought out my vinyl and his book; both of which he signed for me.  He looked at the vinyl and said that he remembered doing that particular one; but told me that he puts out cds now.  I said I know, but I like his vinyls as they sound wonderful and I collect vinyls as a hobby.  Now, I've got them signed and I've also got a photo of us again now.
Not long after that, Dad fixed my clothes line; which broke one day.  he dug up my old one and put in a new one.  it works well; but all he's gotta do now is fill in the rest of the concrete so I don't fall into the holes that he didn't finish off to level them off.  But this new line fits about 4 loads of washing on it instead of 3; now that's an improvement.
I had to go back to my doctor not long after this because my sinus was getting really bad.  At night, my cough was horrible, I was getting into the habit of having boiling hot showers in the morning to clean out anything from the night before.  And the doctor said that my hay fever had turned into a sinus infection; and he put me onto Klacid; an antibiotic.  I've filled out both repeats, but still I've got a dry cough tickling my throat.  However the rest of the infection has dried up and gone away.  While I was at the doctors, he noticed I had wax in my right ear and syringed it out; but he did it wrong and I got a whole lot of water behind the ear drum and it was stuck there for three days.  So, by the time Mum and I went to Gabe and Kats' house to check on it, I was being driven insane by this cotton wool feeling and slowly going deaf in my right ear... grrr... so I bought some ear drops and they did the trick!
The Logan Art Gallery went out their Christmas Party yesterday.  But I've already gone into detail about that.  So, I won't repeat what I've said about that.  I haven't been to Jupiter's Casino since I was around 10, so that's certainly something different.  From what I remember, the place seems smaller somehow... hehe. :P 
Otherwise, the other things I've done that are different this month are:  reading a 6-book series in around 6 weeks.  That's a book a week!  And that includes me reading while I have the sinus infection... pretty good eh?
I have a gorgeous Gloxinia flowering early in my back garden.  It's just lovely.  And seeing I have three other buds ready to bloom, I can't wait until they open too.

So, there you have it, my something different for this month.  I've had my ups and downs... otherwise, it's been a good month.  Take care and until my next month of something different...

Logan Art Gallery Christmas Party

Yesterday, I went out to the annual Christmas Party held for us volunteers at the Logan Art Gallery.  We met at the Gallery an hour later than usual and caught the bus to the Gold Coast Art Gallery.  It was a lovely day; even though the morning was full of heavy showers beforehand.
Christopher Trotter's Dragonfly
I took my camera - of course - and had a ball taking photos.  I got to sit next to one of the regular ladies who I get along with; as Mum wasn't with me this year.  Mum and Dad were off to Toowoomba to attend the birthday party of Ted Lane; a man I've known since I was six or so.  He's not very well and so they thought to go to his party; and seeing I had replied to this one - both parties were on the same day - we couldn't do much about them.  Besides, Ted's birthday was just last week.
The Gold Coast Art Gallery was lovely and the grounds were included in being arty too.  They have a Sculpture Walk where you take a pamphlet with you and you walk the grounds looking at the various sculptures around the parklands; which reach right out the back of the place.  It's amazing and well worth the time and your camera too.  They are made from many types of materials from steel to sandstone and colours as well.  I found blue and purple sculptures dotting the area too.  The best part about this whole walk was that it was well-constructed with a proper pathway which reached right out on the spit and the sculptures were well-spaced as well so they didn't interfere with each other.
Soon, it was off to Jupiter's Casino for lunch and we couldn't wait as we were ravenous from all that walking and warm day.  The place was lovely and cool and we were led straight into the restaurant and counted off by the staff as we left the bus.  The buffet lunch was absolutely delicious and we all felt totally relaxed as we kicked back and went back for seconds and thirds; and finally dessert and coffee.  Me? I had a lovely salad and a gorgeous dessert of chocolate mousse and bread'n'butter pudding with cream.  My drink was hot chocolate.  All very fresh; I couldn't finish any of it as it was too much.  
After lunch we were given our gifts for being volunteers for the year and then after that, the first year volunteers received their badges.  I decided to find a souvenir shop to get some postcards to post off to some Bookcrossers.  But first, there was the search for the Ladie's loos... and seeing I hadn't been here since I was ten (and my brother and I had gotten ourselves into some trouble zipping up and down the lifts by the staff), I really didn't know my way around the place; also, I don't go into casinos either for my own reasons.  But I did manage to get some lovely postcards (11 for around $5.00 at a newsagency) and found the giftshop; which was an absolute rip-off.  Otherwise, by the time the bus came around, I was ready to have my afternoon Christmas Nap... I think everyone was.
We had had a wonderful day.  I had gotten a good look at some Christopher Trotter's work; and yet nobody knew it was his; and I managed to get a few good photos of it too.  The Sculpture Walk was amazing and we all ate some wonderful food for lunch at one of the best places on the Gold Coast.  Also, our gift was just as lovely. We got a travel mug with a ticket to see the Australian Army Band to play on 14th, December.  What a great way to thank us volunteers.  I totally enjoyed the day.  I also put up the photo album on my facebook for anyone who is on my friends list, you're most welcome to have a look at what I've been talking about more.  Until my next post, take care. 

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Shopping Day, Wet Day

Before I went out today, I thought it was going to be nice.  But by the time I had gotten my money transferred, the trolley ready and my shoes on, it was chilly, clouded over and looked like rain.  Wonderful; and I didn't have a good umbrella.  So, I took the farty little one I had in the trolley hoping the wasn't going to be too bad.
I was wrong about that.  Each time I stepped outside a store, it was raining and I had to go out into the rain to get from point A to point B.  So, once I had gotten wet getting to the pet shop, I thought to buy a new umbrella... something that would keep the rain off not only me, but the trolley and my bag too.  So, I went to the Asian store nearby and picked out a really lovely brolly and found out too late that their card machine was out of order; and they only took cash.  So, I had to put the umbrella back and put up with my crappy umbrella outside again.
I ended up with a nice umbrella for around $10 that had two coverings.  One was a black outside covering and the underside was all rainbow coloured.  Very pretty.  I was happy about it and thought it was better than the little broken one I've had since I was in school.  Anyway, the reasons why I replaced it are simple.  I am sick of the old one playing up.  It won't open when I need it to; it'll stick when I press the button and it's pouring rain and I don't have a free hand to make it work.  Then, there's the times it won't close properly.  I've lost count of the times this purple monstrosity won't close over the two clips that are needed so it doesn't fly open by accident while I'm inside... or better still, I'd have wrapped it up and put it away and the handle will suddenly fly up and open on its own.  The old one is dangerous... so I got rid of it in a bin outside Woolworths; simply because I don't think even the poor would want it, because I don't.
Anyway, the new umbrella worked a treat!  While I had it open, my trolley didn't get wet, nor did my handbag or any of me... wonderful!  And I love the colours inside it; and how they peep out the edges of the brolly.
By the time I got home, the sun was shining as though it in spite of me.  Well, tomorrow, I'll be out again to do the beginning of my Christmas Shopping.  I've got Christmas cards to purchase, money to pull out of the bank and then there's other money to look at transferring next week for my big Christmas Shopping Day for December... the one big shop for everyone where I go into Garden City for one day only and never go there again over Christmas - for anything or anyone... not even Dad on his ritual of last minute shopping on Christmas Eve.  The only way I'd go shopping again is for groceries; and even then, it's only fortnightly.  Until my next post, take care.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Health and Weather

If it isn't one thing around this place, it's another.  A few weeks ago, I began to suffer from hay fever.  But it wasn't just that, it got bad really quickly.  I tried everything to get rid of it but the more I tried, the worse it got; and to make it even worse, I had a concert of Sir James Galway to attend.  So, once I did - and lost my voice soon after - I went to the doctor and he told me that I had a sinus infection.  I'm the road to recovery now; however my house isn't.  
As you may remember, we had installed a new clothes line and Dad fixed the knocking problem.  However, this morning, it began again and has been going all day.  So, it looks like we'll have to  get somebody in to look at the place.  
Otherwise, I've had a good week; but busy.  The water I had in my ear was removed with the help of ear drops.  I remember when I was young using them after going swimming to keep from getting middle ear infections.  Now, I was using them again to get water out from behind my eardrum to stop the water from sloshing around in my head.  It stung because I had tried everything to get the water out beforehand; but once the drops worked, the water soaked three tissues!  Wow! That was a lot of water!  
Otherwise, yesterday, Mum and I went over to Clontarf to pick up Riley from school.  However, how we got there was funny.  We forgot to take the Gateway Arterial and she drove us almost all the way into town before she realised we were going the wrong way... oops!  So, we got off at the next offramp and took off across Carindale and found our way to the nearest onramp to the Gateway Arterial that was available.  We got there with 20 minutes to spare and I got some reading done; and even helped her out with finding her spot in her book (as the bookmark fell out of the book).
Seeing Riley was fun.  I took photos of her and Mum walking up and we picked up her stuff from her house, then we were off.  First we dropped off to the Rochedale Fruit Market and picked up some food.  I got some stuff for lunches over the weekend; and then forgot that I had paid for some of Little Miss Stevie's food on my card and I didn't have enough money left over on it.  A big oops for me.  But Mum helped me out until I figured out why I didn't have the cash.  
Once we got back to Mum's house we dropped off the food and then we were back in the car and dropped me off home where I went and fixed myself dinner and worked on a scarf I've been working on for the K-Mart Wishing Tree.  It's looking good.  I also watched a movie before going to bed where I read a book for about an hour and crashed.
Today was a windy day; so I got the hand-washing done and it dried quickly.  Now, it's all clouded over and looks like rain.  Well, I better go.  Until my next post, take care.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

New Fixings Around the House

For the last few months, I've been getting knocking in the pipes.  Actually, since my new neighbours moved in, and they got their plumbing fixed, my pipes have been knocking.  And last Saturday, when they began their laundry at 4:50am, I was woken up by the water being switched on to fill their machine, I was down right sick of it and confronted them about it.  Now, the last time I did, I was polite and nice about it and they handed my head back to me on a platter.  So, this time I was a little more direct and forceful; something Dad thought was wrong until I told them how they treated me last time.  But this wasn't to last too long... the knocking of the pipes, not the neighbours.
On Saturday, Dad and I went off to Bunnings and bought some steel and took off to his place where he drilled some holes into it. Then, the next day, we were out again to Bunnings and bought more stuff and got the rest of the bolts and washers and others bits we needed for the clothes line to be replaced at my place.  You see, last week, my line broke.  So, Dad thought to replace the whole thing seeing it wasn't the best thing around.   It was a long day of work out in the sun.  He found a few things about my place.  It was nice and quiet and the trees were nice too in the afternoon.  Dad told me that I really did have a nice little place after all these years.  I agreed; especially when my first landlords asked me to move out when they wanted to sell and we couldn't find another place around Logan that was as good as this one.  
All day Sunday, the pipes knocked and didn't keep quiet for any good length of time.  Then, Dad fixed the tap in the laundry and we opened up the faucets in all the wet areas to let the air out of the pipes.  So far it's worked.  However, once in a while the pipes will knock late a night since then; and when I told Dad, he said he'd get a plumber in to look at it all.  Otherwise, he thinks something's badly wrong with how it's going.
Last night, the possums thought the clothes lines was fun.  It moved enough for them and when I looked out this morning, I realised it won't hold the weight of anything until I get the bolts tightened up completely by Dad.  So, I still can't do any laundry for a little while.  Otherwise, it's a good-looking line and will keep everything off the ground once it's tightened up properly.  

Today, I'm feeling the affects of going to the doctors yesterday.  I've taken some antibiotics and have had to keep eating to keep the nausea away.  And he also syringed my right ear of wax; but I've still got water in it.  So, I'll be getting some swim-ear stuff to get that out as all I'm hearing right now is swooshing in my ear and it feels like I've got cotton wool in my right ear.  Not fun.  Mum and I are going today to get chook food today for Gabe and Kat's chickens; so we'll get the swim-ear stuff and put it in to clear my ear out.
Well, was my weekend.  Until my next post, take care.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Big Week of Great Things

That title can be taken two ways.  Allow me to explain.  On Sunday,I had the greatest time with Mum.  We went to see Sir James Galway play at the Concert Hall in the city.  So many people showed up from all over.  A man sitting to my left hadn't been to Brisbane before and he looked like he had traveled a long way to be there.  There were people from all generations there; and as always Sir James didn't disappoint.  The Concert Hall was half-lit so he could see our faces, he talked to us and told us funny anecdotes while the stage was being changed over from the piano being used to chair and music stands for the string quartet.  And he commented on how much Brisbane had changed since 1986 when he was last here.  He even asked how many of us in the audience played the flute and was amazed at how little there were who did.
He stayed behind to meet people and sign his cds and I was there in line with my old photo of us when I was 13 and he was here in 1986 at the stage door downstairs.  It was really lovely.  I showed his agent and he was amazed that I had held onto it for so long.  And when it came to my turn, I said that we had met before.  He asked me: 'We have?' and nodded and showed him the photo and his eyes lit up as he said: 'We have! Oh! Don't we look cute!'  He was thrilled I had brought it in and even more thrilled I had a vinyl with me and his book; and he signed both of them for me.  This really made my night!  Lady Jeanne said that he looked cute in the photo I had brought along and I was so young too!  But by the time I got to the car out at Southbank Station, my voice was completely gone because I had gone into the night air.  I didn't care, I had gotten to talk to Sir James and that really made my year.
Monday was my first day to go out and see the doctor to see what was going on with my voice.  It hadn't gotten any better since the night before and I was afraid it had turned into something else.  However, it was just really bad sinus.  After that, I went off to Rockaways at Springwood and showed them my photo of me with Sir James and his wife and they were thrilled that I had the chance to meet him again.  Then, I headed off to Mum and Dad's place.  
Tuesday was my first day where I sat around the place and sorted out my shopping list, put out the bin and washed up everything in the kitchen.  But I didn't get to the floors.
Wednesday was shopping day and I received two parcels in the mail.  One was a HGG and the other was a parcel of books from Tasmania.  I love receiving things in the mail.  However, I'm a little late in getting HGG's out this year.  So, I'm beginning to get postcards out and other things too.  I know that sounds bad, but I've had things going on around here that are unavoidable; otherwise I've been looking at sending out things to people on Bookcrossing soon.  A postcard has already been send; with more to come soon.
On the way home from shopping, I spotted four police cares around the White Lanterns unit complex.  This place is two doors down from my unit complex.  They had cordoned the whole complex off and were putting out those yellow numbers on the footpath.  I wondered what was going on.  Well, I thought the worst and kept my back door deadlocked.  Something just as bad had occurred.  An 8-year-old boy had been stabbed in the head by a schizophrenic man with a pair of scissors.  This was because the kid had been tormenting him and just pushed him too far; making him break.  This kid had been vandalising things, throwing bricks, picking on girls and doing other horrible things around the place like playing chicken with the traffic on Kingston Road.  I hate to say this, but really, if the kid did this to somebody like that, he deserves everything he gets; especially if the parents can't reign him in.
Thursday was a day for washing and I got in and did some.  However, I didn't get much done.  So, I thought to get more done today.  But it looked like rain until around midday when I thought to get the rest of it done... and my clothesline broke!  I've been asking Dad to get a new clothesline (it's the line itself, not the whole thing that broke) hooked up but he kept putting it off.  So, now, I have to wait until tomorrow to get to Bunnings to buy the stuff and also get some Feed'n'weed (this is stuff to kill of the weeds that are destroying my backyard and feed the lawn that is struggling to get through).
So, that was my week!  And what a week!  It was big.  It was great in so many ways.  It was something where it will take a lot to top it... but it happened.  Until my next post, take care. 

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Sir James Galway Visits Brisbane

I have been a very big fan of Sir James Galway for a long time; well, since before he was Knighted by the Queen.  I was around 12 or so when I heard his music and I wanted to play the flute.  It was a thing of beauty and something that I wanted.  So,I did and around the same time, I bought his vinyl and drove everyone nuts in my house with it.
Just after I turned 13, Mum took me to see him in concert at the Concert Hall in the Performing Arts Complex here in Brisbane.  Well!  It was the best thing to happen to me all year!  And seeing the South East Freeway hadn't been put through yet, it took a long time to get into the city.  So, I had to take half a day off school (I think) to go.
It was a great concert and he had a lovely Irish accent when he talked to the audience.  The best thing about that concert in 1986 was that I got to meet him at the stage door.  However, there were only about four other people there with us to meet him.  

This time, the whole Concert Hall was packed.  All kinds of people were there and many looked very bored; but all the same some travelled some distance to see Sir James play.  He still has his lovely Belfast accent and told funny anecdotes about things; making us laugh.  He also played the tin whistle as well as the golden flute.  His lovely wife came out on the stage with him and played too.  She and him play well together and are a great couple in music.  
The best thing is that I got to meet him again.  I showed him the photo from 1986 and he was amazed I had come back to see him play again; and equally amazed that I still had my first vinyl of his.  I told him that I had that one for a long time until a few years ago when I began looking for any others that may have been around of his.  He said that a lot of his music is on cd now; but I said that I love his older stuff on vinyl as it sounds better.  Sir James saw I had his book too and he also signed that; then was pleased to pose for a photo with me and Lady Jane.  It was lovely to catch up with him again; to see him again after all this time.

Friday, November 5, 2010

And Friday's Here!

It's been a weird ol' week for me.  On Sunday, I celebrated Halloween and loved every minute of it by dressing up and chaperoning some of the kids around the unit complex.  It was cool.  My friends said I scrubbed up well to look as evil as I did.  Little Miss Stevie loved me no matter what I dressed as and I have lollies still left over from that night clogging up my cupboards.  Oh well, it was fun for a while.  At least I'm not left with amount I had last year.
Also, I carved up 2 pumpkins instead of the one.  They were big 5kg ones and they looked great... until the possums had a go at them in the back yard.  Jeez, they must have thought I left them a great meal that night!  But it was short-lived as the two pumpkins were gone by Tuesday afternoon for the rubbish pick-up on Wednesday.
And speaking of Tuesday - which was Melbourne Cup Day - I won big time!  I got $88 for Americain and So You Think.  Two great horses; and the second one has already been sold to go overseas!  That was very quick!  Well I didn't just bet on the biggest horse race around; I went out to a luncheon for Epilepsy Queensland.  They had a lovely set-up and an Elvis Presley impersonator and a big screen for the race (which some idiot woman walked up to and changed the channels when she was trying to get to volume turned up... for what reason?  I'm not sure).
Lunch itself was okay... I guess.  The meat-eaters were eating better than the vegetarians.  Their meals came out first and they finished first.  It wasn't well-planned, but dessert was delicious.  The race was just after lunch; which I had to hoover down because I had about 20 minutes to eat it... not a very long time to eat just chickpeas, spinach, potatoes, beetroot and herbs with sesame seeds.  Anyway, I felt like I was being fed something from a Third World Country... not something I'd make in my own home (and believe me, this was something I'd be able to make in my own home too... it would have better if I had something in front of me I didn't know how to make).  Mum's lunch was chicken thigh with Italian bacon, white sauce, asparagus, potato and snow peas.  I would have happily eaten that if I didn't eat meat!  For one thing, it was served up first, and it looked and smelled delicious!  Mine smelled nice... but tasted well, bland.
The best thing out of that day was that I won $88 on a race.  Just as well I only make a bet on that day of the year and no others.  But otherwise, I never lose. 

For the rest of the week, I have been battling with my sinus'.  Mum thinks I've picked up something from the Epilepsy Queensland Luncheon... but I don't get sick that quickly.  Anyway, I'm gong well, as I'm feeling a lot better than I did yesterday.  The best thing is that I slept like a log last night; and slept the whole night through after gargling with salty water twice... blech!... why is it the best things for you always taste the worst?
Yesterday I finish my 3rd book of the Midnight Breed series and then began my 4th book on it.  I'm just zipping through these books!  It's great.  I love how it's written and how it's all explained.  Well, that's it for another week.  Not all that exciting, but that's my week nonetheless.  A funny smell has invaded Logan... it's smells like burning metal... yuk.  Not long after I smelled it, I heard a lot of sirens - fire engine sirens - take off towards Logan Central.  I hope it all okay there because that smell isn't good.  Until my next post, take care.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Melbourne Cup Win!

Yesterday was Melbourne Cup Day and Mum and I went into the city to celebrate at an Epilepsy Queensland luncheon at the Diana Hotel.  It was well-organised with all the horse-like things, and a big screen to watch the races; we even had Elvis Presley made an appearance too!  Then, lunch was served up.  The meat eaters got theirs, and the vegetarians were served their simple meal of chickpeas, herbs, spinach, beetroot and potato pieces with sesame seeds over the top at the very last minute... it was nothing compared with what the meat-eaters were having for lunch (lavish to the last!  Mum had a chicken thigh with Italian bacon, asparagus, white sauce, potato and snow peas!  Yummo!  I would have had that - but with Eggplant instead - for my meal, easy peasy; instead of the horrible chickpea lunch I had.  Why is it that vegetarians always get the blunt end of the deal at restaurants... the cooks seem to think we eat as though we're from a Third World Country; and we don't.  I seriously could have made the meal I was served a lot better at home.  But the dessert was a lot better and so was the entree; so I guess I won two out of three.
The race was fantastic!  My horse won; so did another I had backed.  I'm so pleased they came first and third... but the others I had bet on were nowhere near the top three.  Oh well, can't win them all.  I did get $88 out of the day and Mum won a bottle of wine.  We enjoyed the company at the table and found we had front row seats to the massive screen in front.  
The Elvis Presley impersonator was good.  He took requests from around the room and posed for photos happily as he held his guitar... a lovely gentleman.  He was the Elvis before he put on the weight and took to those horrible jumpsuits in the 1970's.  Yep, he was the better-looking kind of Elvis they all do.. I think everyone likes that one.  However, Mum and I prefer Dean Elvis... he's hotter and better-looking and really gets into the character of him.

The day was finished by Mum bringing me home.  We were tired and I had a headache by around 8pm.  So, I popped a few painkillers took it easy and put the bin out.  After 9:30pm or so, I went to bed and read for a hour or so; almost finishing a book I've been zipping through.  Yep, it was a full day; and Mum and I totally enjoyed ourselves. 
I woke this morning with horrible sinus and a sore throat.  I guess I'll be getting early nights and taking sinus meds until my nose clears up.  Darn pollen!  

Monday, November 1, 2010

All Hallow's Eve!


Well, last night was Halloween and I love this time of the year!  It's all about celebrating the dead, dressing up and giving out lollies the kiddies.  However, little do people - well a lot of people - know, this celebration isn't just one day, it's a three day festival commemorating the dead and celebrating the birth, death and rebirth of our Mother Earth.  It's also the Pagan New Year.. the but church won't let you think that.

I've been celebrating this time of the year since I was little and will always celebrate it.  I love dressing up my house and getting the lolly bags ready and carving the pumpkins too.  And the costumes you can get are just fantastic.  Forget about hiring, buy your own and you can have a costume for every year you can pick from without having to worry about where yours has been before you put it on.  I have had my witch's costume for around five or six years now and it's my pride and joy; and it really suits me too once I have the make up on and my black stockings.  It's brilliant and really makes a change to usual costumes that are thrown together by people by them picking through their wardrobe.
Yesterday, I had my pumpkins out by around 6pm and the big skull on my door too.  The place was ready and I was dressed too with my make up on; but I had problems with my necklace.  I couldn't get it on.  So, I walked to friend's unit to ask if she could help me and they did.  With a few other friends around, they saw that I scrubbed up pretty well and looked completely different in my costume.  Photos were taken and one of the guys took a photo on his phone saying I looked hot for an evil chick.  
The only kids who came around were the kids I was going to chaperon around the unit complex; as the parents trusted me enough to know which units to go to and which ones to leave alone.  So, at around 7:30pm, we walked around and to a few units, but most weren't open for 'business' - so to say.  Mine looked the best with two pumpkins, a scary mask on the front door and a few freaky stickers on the window.  But, there were two others near the front where the owners had tried hanging flies from trees, and other scary things.  And another lady had carved a pumpkin very skillfully.  Doesn't he look great?  All up, took around half an hour to get around the place and the kids only got a handful of lollies... doesn't seem right somehow that they go to all this trouble and yet they don't get the treats.  Well, I enjoy dressing up no matter what the occasion.
Once the time came, I performed my first Halloween Circle in the back yard in two years (the first one since the uni students over the back fence were evicted; now I was really nervous about my next door neighbours.  But she already caught an eyeful of what I was wearing and thought I was weirdo... so what else could I do to make this even more evident?  Yep, declare that I'm a witch in real life!).  It felt great to get back out into the night air, practicing what I was supposed to.  I totally enjoyed it and knew this is where I belonged... celebrating nature and enjoying the powers that be.  Once I closed the circle, I put the pumpkins out in the back yard and turned the television off and put a few things away.  Otherwise, I was exhausted from another Pagan Sabbath finished up.  I was off to bed... but first, I took off the costume and was back into civilian clothing and scraped off the make up before reading another thirty-five pages of the 'Midnight Breed' series: 'Midnight Kiss' - book 3.
 


Until my next Halloween Post.  I hope you all had a good one!  And until my next post, take care.