Thursday 13 August 2015

What do YOU do when it all gets to be a bit too much?

As most of my readers know it is flu season here in Australia and, as predicted, the flu seems to be a bit more widespread than in previous years. It has put in an appearance in this household as well resulting in the CEO ending up on his second course of antibiotics for a chest infection and our son being out of action for a day or so but recovering quickly. Of course, as in most households I imagine apart from the 'perfect' ones which I can only dream about, the wife/mother is the nurse and caregiver but even the most well intentioned and most generous lady can get a bit 'over it' and need to escape for a while. So what does one do in such a situation?



If I lived at the beach I would go down and sit on the pier and look out onto the ocean...


...this photo is what the pier at the back of the unit we stay at actually looks like :-)



If it was a nice day I could go outside and sit in the garden and relax and unwind and not listen to anyone moaning and coughing. But alas, it is blowing a gale outside and the weather is not conducive to getting away from it all.  So the only solution is.... to take a trip to Spotlight!


With two Spotlight gift cards, that I had been given for my birthday, burning in my pocket I arrived to find that there was a sale on. I have been avoiding going to the store recently as I need fabric like a hole in the head but thought I would have a walk around and just relax and enjoy looking at pretty things for a while. 

I love checking out the quilting fabric but it is usually quite expensive so I only buy it when it is on a 50% off special so I spent some time in that section. I wandered down to the bottling shelves and wondered whether to buy a new thermometer as I use one for my soap making but I don't really need a second one so gave that a miss. I really try not to buy anything I won't use these days as we just have no room and decluttering is on my list at the moment. 

Then I walked past the clearance shelves in the yarn section and priced the sock yarn but it is still $11.99 and I still haven't finished my second pair of socks so kept walking and came across some Moda Vera Denbigh yarn for $2 a ball. 


I know, I know ...it is very bright but I did need cheering up and it was the only colour available and seeing as I am hoping to improve my knitting skills and knit a scarf or two for the homeless for winter next year I am sure that the colour won't be an issue when keeping warm takes priority. I also hope to learn how to knit a beanie so that I can have some  ready to give away next year. I have never knitted a beanie but I imagine they aren't that hard to make. Anyone got an easy pattern for beginners?



While in the all things bright and beautiful frame of mind I checked out the towels as some of ours need replacing and picked an orange one to keep me happy. No problems with matching the colour scheme as there isn't one in this house :-)



Then I headed over to the tea towel section and tried to work out which ones are absorbent as so many tea towels I buy are just hopeless when it comes to wiping up. The tea towels are washed each day as the residents wipe their hands on them and they wear out quite quickly.  I mean what part of 'Please don't wipe your hands on the tea towel' don't they understand ;-)

I thought of Kelly and wondered what she would choose as she would know what a good quality one would be like but then again, Kelly makes her own and if you would like to see her in action check out her video.She is one super talented lady and I don't even know how she made the video never mind the weaving of the tea towels. LOL!   If anyone finds a good brand of tea towels that are absorbent then let me know please!




Then it was time to buy a couple of cards for upcoming birthdays before heading to the checkout as I had already used up one of the gift cards. I was quite pleased not to have bought anything I wouldn't use and I didn't give into to the temptation of buying any more fabric to add to my stash. 

It was time to head back to my role as nurse once again. It was a nice break and just what I needed to cope...not that I really have anything to complain about compared to a lot of people. 

Now that you have listened to my winge for the day and would like to read something nice, then head over to Faye's blog This Blessed Hearth and read about her visit to Anne of Green Gables' house.   That would cheer anyone up don't you think?







20 comments:

  1. You go to spotlight, I go to Bunnings. LOL I am just about to have a ME TIME break - stay tuned.

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    1. I did have my pedometer on too, Lynda although I probably didn't take as many steps as you did when you went to Bunnings. LOL!

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  2. So glad you enjoyed your trip to "Spotty" Chel. I reckon you really deserved it. I love a good rummage through our store too. Man flu is the worst kind in my experience so good luck with it and I hope your family get better soon.

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    1. Sometimes it is just nice to go there and look rather than buy anything. Anything to get away from 'man flu'.

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  3. The bright colours are just fine and dandy - much better than professional grey - meh. I rarely get sick but when I do I come down with an almighty crash. All the best to the CEO

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  4. Well you will have plenty of ladies to look after you when that happens, Phil. LOL!

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  5. Sorry to hear that you have been battling with man flu in your home. Unfortunately I have been struck down with the flu also so I'm probably the cause of some eye rolls here as well LOL. I'm disappointed because I've avoided it for several years but this time it has hit like a freight train. Ah well, hang in there as my Mum says.

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    1. Sorry to hear that, Barb.I guess we won't be seeing you tomorrow. I hope you improve soon. It is not nice having the flu.

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  6. I am laughing as I read - you had a "spot" of retail therapy!! Good for you! Just remember - that which does not kill you makes you strong! Thinking good thoughts for you and apologies for the puns and cliches!

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    1. Yes I did have just a spot of retail therapy, Kathy. LOL!

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  7. I like a trip to Spotty too, Chel - (even if it is only to look). Today, however, I escaped by going to some local plant nurseries and checking out the lovely "potted colour" they have getting ready for Spring. Like you though, eventually, I had to come home.......LOL

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    1. Hmmm Blinky, I never thought of going to the plant nursery although I wouldn't have come home empty handed :-)

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  8. I mood alter by going to the hardware stores with or without the boys. I really miss the farm equipment store where I used to live. Both are excellent sources for art materials; nontraditional, for sure, but really cool stuff can be found. Plus, they both feed my craving for Command strips and hangers.

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    1. You are funny, J. :-) I am not sure what command strips actually are.

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  9. A break and change of scenery is the main thing. I like to look in yarn shops, embroidery shops etc for kind of creative inspiration. It helps.
    I hope the flu is soon gone fro your house!
    I have a lot of trouble with tea towels! I have bought some but I make a lot of them. Even many expensive tea towels have basically been waterproof. Lol Literally water will not penetrate them. Talk about useless! It's just silly. Just now I am making some from an old sheet set, using double thickness... I hope to get dorm sewing done next week. I hope you do not get sick too! With love, Annabel.xxxx

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  10. Annabel, I was wondering if your tea towels made from sheets would be absorbent, obviously they must be or you wouldn't keep making them. I will have to experiment with some fabric I have here. Water repellent tea towels just don't do the job ;-)

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  11. Nanna Chel,
    The beach looks lovely right about now. I'm think I'm done with winter and spring chill, summer sounds much better. I'll probably regret saying that once the heat sets in.
    I hope everyone gets better at your place. The flu is still hanging around our place and I still have it pretty bad. I've been keeping to my self so I don't spread it around more. Hope to catch up with the simple living workshops soon.
    -Shiralee.

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  12. We missed you yesterday and hoped you were okay, Shiralee. The flu just keeps hanging around, doesn't it? Our next workshop won't be until October so you should be well by then.

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  13. Nanna Chel, I laughed out loud at your 'no colour scheme' comment. I love Spotlight for me time too. It's a minefield though....I can't tell you how many remnants and specials I've bought on impulse! I hope the CEO is feeling improved today. Love, Mimi xxx

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  14. Mimi, it is hard to have a colour scheme when hubby buys chairs, etc. at garage sales :-) Yes the CEO is improving slowly but surely....thankfully ;-)

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