G'day, Sharons and all to follow.
LDM, I hope your kids get to enjoy the snow play. I'm jealous!
WO, cold weather is a wonderful time for reading. I hope you get to finish your book.
It's been hot here today, I had the air conditioning on in the car most of the day, it's been too muggy (humid & hot) with the windows down. Even tonight at 10 pm as we left mother in law's place, we stepped outside and it felt like Singapore.
Today (Saturday) was another busy but interesting day. Not too hectic, believe it or not.
I drove difficult child 3 to difficult child 1's house, they were heading to a training day for the medieval battle games group that difficult child 1 belongs to. Then I headed to easy child 2/difficult child 2's place to collect her. She had a job interview (sister of former boss) which we hoped could be brought forward because we also had an appointment in the city at the Art Gallery.
The job interview went well, she begins training with them on Tuesday. Another similar store in a suburb closer to her apartment, has her training on Monday. So hopefully that is two part-time jobs she has now. She's desperate for money, they have a pile of bills growing bigger.
She had dressed fairly conservatively for the job interview, although the black skirt she was wearing is a tad unusual for a shop girl, it looks more like something Morticia Addams would wear. But teamed with a plain t-shirt...
We left that suburb for the city. I'd idled the time in that town by buying a few kitchen needs for mother in law (a new bamboo chopping board to replace the ones husband confiscated). We had 90 minutes to go a distance that should take us less than half an hour. It took almost all that 90 minutes - Saturday drivers heading to the city not knowing where they were going. Frustrating. easy child 2/difficult child 2 changed her t-shirt for something prettier and a bit more Gothic. The tightly-laced black velvet corset finished the look.
At the Art gallery there were plenty of empty parking spaces. Turned out they were empty for a reason - someone in their infinite wisdom had decreed that for the nearby Opera in the Park this evening, the Art Gallery parking area could be made into a money spinner. No signs indicated it, but we were told we need to have booked ahead, and paid ahead, to park there. I threw a moderately polite tantrum and asked where the signs were, and what provisions there wee for disabled people who only intended to visit the Art Gallery. I probably could have bluffed my way to being allowed to stay there, but the Gallery security people directed me to a better spot, behind a barrier.
The meeting went well (in the Gallery). It was a play reading/audition, they wanted easy child 2/difficult child 2 for a particular role and it looks like she has the part. I was asked to read a few parts also (as were the others) and it looks like I might have the part I wanted also. We finished ahead of schedule so before we left, easy child 2/difficult child 2 & I wandered around the Art Gallery. I find it's always a shock to see the originals of famous paintings. easy child 2/difficult child 2 flitted from room to room, openly admitting she was more interested in the frames and in the clothing of the subjects in the older paintings. She's been reading up on clothing from various periods of history, from various places. I told her she needs to do more study, perhaps consider costume design once she's completed her child care studies. It was amusing watching her; even more amusing watching other people watching her. She does attract attention but is totally oblivious. A security guard wandered over as easy child 2/difficult child 2 floated down a marble spiral staircase. "Are you lost? Can I help you?" he asked.
I explained to him that easy child 2/difficult child 2 was exploring the architecture and was especially admiring the staircase. He looked surprised and a little disbelieving. Just then easy child 2/difficult child 2 appeared back up the stairs. "I LOVE this staircase!" she announced. "I want to take it home!"
An interesting game that easy child 2/difficult child 2 said she had read about somewhere - if you are taking children to an art gallery, tell them to pretend they could buy ONE painting that is on display. Regardless of price. They need to choose the one painting they would buy if they could. It's a fun pretend game, it can really relive the sort of boredom and intimidation kids sometimes feel in such places.
We didn't have long enough, the Gallery was closing. Abbey, if you read this, it was just up the road from where difficult child 3 took that photo for you. It's an amazing place.
We got back to the car, headed home via the Middle-Eastern pastry shop we stopped at a week ago. I bought a plate of baklava then headed back to our district, dropped off one child, collected another then headed home.
husband was at mother in law's place. We cooked dinner down there (fresh fish pan-fried with freshly tossed salad; tiger prawns with seafood sauce; baklava) then headed home.
mother in law just rang to let us know she was in bed (our new rule for her, until the alarm button arrives).
So it's been busy today, but still fun and uplifting. I enjoyed the play reading, I loved exploring with my daughter and each time I navigate the city these days and come out of it without getting too lost, I feel more confident about my ability to navigate even in the rabbit warren places. So yeah - a good day. difficult child 3 had fun too. I teased him a bit when I collected him (once I knew he was OK) - "Have you been fighting with your brother?" with mock severity. (They had been engaged in swordplay and other interesting medieval weaponry).
So yeah. Fun.
I hope your Saturday is fun, too.
Marg