The post in which I say Lovely, many many times.

So it's been a really social weekend for me this one. And I've enjoyed every second of it.

First up, KIMBA flew up to stay on Friday evening. There were drinks at my house with the very awesome canteen manager and the three of us sat up late and drank and listened to Prince and wondered about some very rude lyrics. A little box with a tongue and a mirror inside? WHATEVER CAN THAT MEAN?!


On Saturday Kimba and I took the middle child out for a special day to Gorman House, in the city. They have these artsy type markets which was quite lovely and two simply fabulous things happened. Number 1) I joined the Canberra Writer's Centre. I am a paid up member and now have access to script writing classes and workshops and festivals and being a part of that simply fabulous community. I'm so happy about it. The number 2) fabulous thing? Finding out that there is going to be a JANE AUSTEN FESTIVAL here, right here in Canberra over a few days in April 2010. RESTRAIN ME NOW. There is going to be dress making and bonnet making and dancing and reading and talking and tittering about lovely, lovely Jane and her books and her era. So glad I moved to Canberra. A Jane Austen festival indeed.

Then on Saturday evening - Kimba and I met up with a girl blogger (who doesn't have a blog anymore) who has been reading us for quite some time and we her. 'Deece' was lovely lovely lovely - you know it's always an awkward thing meeting a person who you only know from their writing - you can't always guarantee that the person whose words you enjoy will be as accessible and thoughtful in real life. She was. And super smart. And warm and friendly and spunky to boot! We enjoyed our evening with Deece very much - thanks chickie!


So Sunday night was another social event with wine and too much food (how funny that seems to be a pattern with me). My brother (my wonderful brother) came over - we ate a feast of fresh, home cooked food and drank expensive wine while listening to David Gray. Just a bit lurvely really. And then Kim and I sat up and watched a Billy Crystal and Debra Winger movie - Forget Paris. That movie is one of my favourites but I still can't watch the parts with Billy Cyrstal kissing and in bed with Debra. I can't. I'm sorry.

And so now it is Monday morning and I am dropping Kimba off at the airport shortly. It will be back to real life for me - I have a laundry basket overflowing with things that need to be folded and sorted and put into rooms. I have a floor that needs vacuuming. I have a kitchen that needs wiping and cleaning. Because of the ants. Let me tell you about those FRIKKIN ANTS.
Every summer they arrive just one day out of the blue. Mum, Dad, Uncle Fritz, Aunt Edna and the kids. All those kids - they just turn up. I tell you, it's so rude.
I know that whatever I do to get rid of them, they just send more rello's in, so it's no use carrying on and throwing a fit about it. They'll leave when they are ready in oh, about two or three months time.


Grrrrr.


So this is my newsy update. It's been a really nice time for me - and I will be a little bit melancholy and sad when Kimba's plane flies away and I am back on my own. But then the kids will be home from school and there will be noise and chatter and life back in the house and things will go back to how they always are and I will be alright.

Me, Bart, the Kids and the Ants. In our little house in Canberra.

Lovely.


*POSTSCRIPT*

Well, subconsciously I really didn't want Kimba to leave, did I? No, because I managed to make her miss her flight.

I was late and tardy in the morning. I said we had PLENTY A TIME. No worries.
But I was wrong. We were 5 minutes past the cut-off for boarding and Kimba had to pay extra money for the next flight.
Then she had to pay me so I could pay for parking.
And buy me a cup of tea, because I have no money on hand. No money, no coins, no sense.

What a perfect host I am.

So to Kimba - what a gracious, calm friend you are. I feel terrible and all a bit hopeless but what I feel more than that is glad you are such a kind girl. x