Fancy Schmancy

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It's Friday, time for some serious fance. I am always a tad on the fancy side, however on Fridays I feel the need to make a special effort. I love reading a blog called definatalie.com by Natalie from Brisbane, Australia. The lovely Natalie epitomizes all things fance and has inspired me to adopt the notion of Friday Fance.

As soon as I first stumbled across her fancy blog I knew that I had found a woman after my own heart. Natalie has a special Friday Fance post each week where she delights readers with purely whimsical and delicious pictures of fancy things. I carry on the Friday Fance theme each Friday by adding some special jewelery to my ensemble or putting on some even fancier outfits than usual, perhaps adding a whimsical Prada scarf around my neck or tying my favourite Fendi daffodil yellow scarf to my handbag.

Today I went off to work in my Friday Fance outfit but with one special touch. As it was pouring with rain I decided that I had to do something to stop the mud getting all over my shoes. I could have put on my heavy, clunky boots and changed at work but I really thought that was way too much of a hassle. Instead, I made bread bag boots.


Oh yes my friends, you read that correctly, bread bag shoe covers, taking the fance to a whole new level entirely. Not Dolce, not Gabbana even, no indeed, I am talking about bread bag shoes.

The Styling was simple.

1. Take an empty bread bag, eat any leftover scraps or crusts if necessary.
2. Tip upside down and shake out the crumbs.
3. Put bag over shoes and tie in a jaunty knot.
3. Slop about in mud without looking like a dirty hobo.

Look out Rachel Zoe, this Countess is laying down some crazy cool styles. Or maybe I have become more mountain woman, less fashionista. A frightening thought, not quite as frightening as what I just saw when I looked down at my feet. Am I really wearing socks with Birkenstocks? Crikey!

This week I have been laid up with back pain. It is no fun at all and I am a terrible patient indeed. The Colonel has had to help me get off the couch a few times when I got stuck. The pain was so excruciating, it would shoot up my back with the slightest movement so I just sat there calling for help like a complete invalid.

One time I was laying on my back in bed when I got stuck. How embarrassing to lie there like a turtle on it's back, helpless and calling out to a bewildered Colonel to help me sit up. Seriously, I thought I was going to end up being one of those people riding around on the electric scooters at Walmart. Peopleofwalmart.com, here I come.

If I ever did find myself in need of some kind of electric wheelchair, rest assured, I would settle for nothing less than the TANK CHAIR.

The Tank Chair.

How cool is that? I so want one of these. A fancy Countess with a crook back needs still needs to walk the dogs you know. I could even ride around the woods in comfort on this ingenious invention. I could crush those pesky shoppers at Walmart in this beast.

I did drag my sorry self out of bed to accompany the Colonel on some errands the other day. There was a job fair in the local mall so we dropped in for a look. When I say job fair, I mean loser fair. Oh my word. Nothing wrong with being a job seeker, but what a turnout, what a pack of strange folk indeed.

My favourite was the lady wearing shorts, black opaque tights and Chemist shop sandals. What was going on there? It's not the 18th century and she's not an explorer, it was just downright wrong. I realised that The Sartorialist would have very slim pickings if he ever visited my adopted town.

On an entirely different note, I received my first set of business cards today. I am so excited. I have never had the need for such things in the past but since taking my humble copyediting and proofreading venture to a new level-- with a fancy website and all-- I realised that some nice professional business cards were in order. I took the picture featured on the card myself and I think it turned out really well.


If any of my dear readers are in need of copyediting or proofreading look no further. Special mates rates would apply of course. *smile*
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Anzac Day 2010

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You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye,

Who cheer when soldier lads march by,

Sneak home and pray you'll never know,

The hell where youth and laughter go. -Siegfried Sassoon.

Last year I attended the Anzac Day dawn service at McDill Air Force Base. It was a solemn and moving occasion and one which filled me with pride as a multi-national group remembered the fallen Diggers, heroes who bravely fought for our freedom.

General David Petraeus stood 0nly feet away from me at the service. Australian soldiers mingled with others from all over the world. Turkish soldiers were present and one Turkish officer quoted Ataturk who famously said,

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"Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives; You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country.Therefore rest in peace.There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours.You, the mothers,who sent their sons from far away countries, wipe away your tears;your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well."

Ataturk, 1934

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I was particularly captivated by an Admiral from Norway. Seriously, he looked like the salty sea dog from the Birdseye Fish Fingers ads. White beard, all neatly trimmed, perfect white uniform. I could not have imagined an Admiral who looked more nautical.

After the service we had mingled together at breakfast, held at the Officers Club. I sat next to a U.S Marine who was telling me how he had sailed on a ship, into Anzac Cove, on the morning of April 25, one particular year. What an experience, one that I would so much like to have for myself one day.

Our small town does not have a dawn service, or a parade of proud diggers, so It was up to me and the Colonel to remember them in our own small way.

I had to work today, horror of horrors, and what a shocking day it was. It seems that on weekends we are always terrifically busy and there are never enough staff. I am forced to run myself ragged around the store, but that, dear reader, is a topic for a whole other blog post. Look for it under labels that include the word 'slavery' among other choice words. *smile*

A highlight of the day was when a couple came in and identified my accent. Most often people think I am English, so it was nice to be recognised as an Aussie. They had spent some time Downunder and even wished me a happy Anzac Day. Bless. What nice people.

I cooked up some lamb chops and smothered them in tomato sauce, (ketchup), then finished my Anzac Day meal with a very lovely piece of Chocolate Ripple Cake. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi Oi Oi!

Thank you to all the Aussie service members, past and present.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

Ode to remembrance-Laurence Binyon

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Peach Melba

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Today, just after coming inside from walking the dogs, I noticed a dark shadow moving outside the window.

A large Moose was walking around the fruit trees just where we had been. Lucky the dogs were inside. Tony would have gone after the much larger creature and ended up the worse for it I am sure.

I think the Moose was the spawn of our lovely Dame Nellie Melba, a very regal Moose we have around here. We call the calf Peach Melba and it looks like she has grown up enough to be out on her own.



I went out on to the deck as she walked past and was surprised to see that Peach did not even look at me despite all the noise I was making. I called out to her, hoping she would look at the camera, a stupid thing to do I know, but she did not care at all and just went on walking by.

What a proud and beautiful creature.

Today while driving to lunch with the Colonel, a large Elk ran across the road in front of us. Then we had to dodge some huge wild Turkeys sauntering casually across the road.

I'm getting more used to seeing all this wildlife, but I still find them so impressive.

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Crikey!

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Oh my word! I have finally discovered why Americans don't eat lamb. It costs a fortune over here, seriously.

I have been craving that delectable meat, so beloved Downunder, and recently went foraging around the local stores looking for some loin chops. I managed to track down 4 tiny chops for the magnificent sum of $14.55 USD. I'm not talking about a crown roast or even a rack of lamb, oh no. Some measly scraps, mostly bone and fat with a little bit of meat on them cost that much!

Lamb was pricey in Tampa but it was not even close to this. I could give up lamb and start eating pork but quite frankly, that would be un-Australian.
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Despite the 'Get some pork on your fork' slogan, which is very catchy I might add, I just cannot bring myself to eat Pork. It's a shame because here it is cheap and plentiful while my lamb chops, obviously are not.

I am saving my small chops for April 25th, Anzac Day. I will fire up the BBQ and indulge in lamb, smothered generously in tomato sauce, (weirdly, people here find that disgusting), while toasting my heroes, the Anzacs.

On a brighter note, we chanced upon some Kraft Cheddar Cheese Spread at the grocery store. What a find! I've already indulged in dry biscuits with the good stuff lavishly heaped on top. It's amazing how certain foods bring such happy memories of home.

I am awaiting an order placed with an Australian grocery store online for Vegemite. I have been out of it for some time but have reached the point where I can go on without Vegemite no longer. The prices these Aussie groceries charge is downright highway robbery, but what is an Aussie Countess who is such a long way from home to do?

While ordering the marvellous black stuff, I had to throw in some Cadbury blocks, custard powder and Choc Ripple biscuits. I can't wait to make a Chocolate Ripple Cake!
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To digress from food adventures for just a moment, I am happy that the roads here have dried out, which means no more mud! I love driving up and down the mountain, taking in the amazing views and pretending to be Michael Shumacher tearing up the hill.


The road is so nice now that we have been able to get the Vintage Volvo out of the garage and gad about town. In May there will be a vintage car parade and we are thinking of joining in and entering the Volvo.
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A Runt for all seasons.

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"Light griefs are loquacious, but the great are dumb." — Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Just a short post today as this week I have had some awful news about people and felines being ill, and therefore am not my usual locquacious self.

A family member has that dreaded disease with the name I cannot bring myself to mention. The diagnosis is positive so I am hopeful and optimistic, but greatly concerned at the same time.

On the kitty front, my beloved Runty has been ill. The poor little Runt has kidney disease and things took a turn for the worse recently. He really has been unwell and lost some weight very quickly. We were so disappointed to learn that his kidney disease had worsened.

The vet dropped that dreaded word, 'euthanasia'. Not the youth in Asia of course, they are doing quite well, I believe. :)

Runty has been on medication and a special diet since and seems to have improved and even gained some weight.

He really is the sweetest little Runt ever and I really hope he sticks around for years to come.

This is Nanageddon!

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Blood on the walls of London town,

Satan's evil in a nylon gown.-Nanageddon,The Mighty Boosh

At work I have been inundated with grumpy Nana's. It's Nanageddon!

Have the old ladies of my small town declared war on me? How else can I explain the sheer number of old dears in their nylon gowns who turn up at work and give me grief.

Evil cakes,

Firey lakes,

Nanageddon's coming with a demon in her wig. -Nanageddon, The Mighty Boosh.

I love old people, they are usually so nice and deserve respect just for being older. I go out of my way to be kind and helpful towards the elderly, but it seems that many old ladies are going out of their way to be mean to me.

Hey Nana's give me a break. How about a bit of a smile, a bit of patience, and maybe you could even throw in a little niceness. Just bring your evil cakes and all will be well, afterall, who am I to turn down a good cake, evil or not. :)
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